Shahbaz – 3-27 and 85 runsSayed ZiauddinJEDDAH – Crown Steel downed My Care & Hala, Usman Gems beat IDB and Dopco Stars got the better of APF in the pre-semifinal matches of the WPCA Tournament at Eskan Complex After the preliminary matches, however, Crown Steel, My Care & Hala, Dopco Stars and Asian Plastic Factory (APF) made the last four. Crown Steel, batting first, racked up 211-6 as Abid Naseem once again proving himself to be dependable by making 50 in 27 balls. Abuhuraira remained unbeaten on 41 off 21, Aftab Khan hit 26 and Kamran 25. Umar took 2-31 and Mohammed 2-41 while one wicket each went to Waheed and Hussain Bhatti. My Care Hala chasing a tough target lost wickets at regular intervals to be stranded at 160-7. Only Rahat contributed substantially with 45 in 22 balls as top and middle order failed. Kashif made 25, Hussain Bhatti 21 and Qazzafi 20. Abuhuraira took 2-32 and Zubaid 2-39 while Aftab Khan, Fahad and Imran accounted for one wicket each. Asian Plastic Factory opted to bat first and was bowled out for just 127 as Shoaib Ali once again sliced through the batting lineup by taking 4-20. Shahbaz claimed 3-27, Khurram 2-27 and Daniyal one wicket. Usman hit 28, Imran Nasir 25 and Niaz 20. For Dopco Stars none could cross the double digit except Shahbaz who batted with solid determination to smash 85 in 58 balls with 8 fours and a six to take his team to the victory. They tallied 129-7 in 107 balls. Wajahat grabbed 3-13, Arshad Choudhry 3-38 and Nadeem Master one. Islamic Development Bank was all out for 137 against Usman Gems. Khalid Butt blasted 42 in 19 balls with 5 sixes and a four. Khurram made 19. Imran took 3-20, Amir Sajjad scalped 2-16, Aasif 2-28 and one wicket each went to Amjad and Zahid. Usman Gems in response took 76 balls to reach 140-2. Amir Sajjad hammered an unbeaten 76 in 37 balls with 9 fours and 3 sixes. Moazzam Shoukat made 30 and Amjad 21. Ashfaq and Adeel were the wicket-takers.
