JEDDAH — Natco, Kanoo Travel, Deccan Knights and Jawar Al-Jazira prevailed in Premier Division Morning session matches of the Ace Travel Cup, which is sponsored by Ace Travel and Tours, and organized by Jeddah Cricket Association (JCA). Deccan Knights beat Micro Engineering by 35 runs. Deccan Knights were shot out for a paltry 137 but Micro Engineering did not do anything better and was skittled out for 102. Deccan Knights lost Najeeb in the first over without scoring but Afroz (21), Sohail (45) and Imran (29) batted sensibly to enable Deccan Knights to reach 137. Khaja claimed 4-20, while Jawwad took 3-22 and Mujahed 2-24. In reply, Micro Engineering lost both the openers in the first over and never recovered from there to be bundled out for 102. Only Ilyas resisted and made 28, while the rest caved in to the guiles of Sohail (3-24), Ayaz (2-5) and Afroz (2-21). Natco defeated ICC Irfan Basha by 4 wickets. ICC posted 179-6, thanks to Azhar (29) and Babar (31) and Raheel (53 – 5 fours and a six). Imran and Humayun Farooq claimed 2 wickets each for 31 and 36 runs, respectively. In reply, Natco started well with skipper Humayun Farooq playing a very important role remaining unbeaten on 77 off 44 balls with 9 fours and 2 sixes. Fahad gave him good support with 22, while Hussain scored 27 with 4 sixes that helped Natco reach 180. Irfan picked up 2-37. Kanoo Travel inflicted 4-wicket defeat on Tamar. Tamar tallied 214-6. Anwar Khan scored 34 with 7 fours, Rayees made 45 (4 fours and a six), while Afroz played the lead role with a hurricane innings of 74 blasting 7 fours and 5 sixes. Shahid hit 3 sixes and 2 fours in his 31. Haroon (2-41) and Shahid (2-37) bowled well. In reply, Kanoo Travel lost Kaleem early but Irshad played a stellar role scoring an impressive 75 off 40 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes. Giving him good support was Akbar (32), who cracked 6 boundaries and a six. Later, Mazhar plundered 62 runs with 7 fours and 2 sixes which powered Kanoo Travel to 215-6 with 2 overs to spare. Afroz and Waseem claimed 2 wickets each. Jawar Al-Jazirah downed Zinda Tilismat by 18 runs. Jawar Al-Jazirah scored 191. Adnan played a valuable knock of 96 off 51 balls. He stepped in when Jawar Al-Jazirah was tottering at 40-4 and changed the complexion of the game completely cracking 10 fours and 2 sixes in his knock. Jawar Al-Jazirah managed to reach a respectable total of 191. Abdullah claimed 2-36, while Javed, Sarfaraz, Shadab and Saeed took one wicket each. In reply, Zinda Tilismat fought well despite losing Irfan early. Javed hit 2 fours and a six in his knock of 31, while Saeed and Sarfaraz revived hopes by making 46 and 32, respectively. But Zinda Tilismat was restricted to 173, 18 short of target. Adel and Umar claimed 3-33 and 1-37, respectively.
