JEDDAH — KAIA, Reel & Rom, Butt Sports and Mohamad Harasani Architects (MHA) scored convincing wins in the opening week's action of the MoneyGram Cricket Ke Badshah T20 Tournament's Morning League here recently. Nine teams are taking part in the league, which is being organized by Jeddah Cricket Association under the auspices of Saudi Cricket Centre. KAIA trounced Saleheen by 9 wickets. Saleheen was restricted to 163 in its allotted overs. Useful contributions came from the blades of Naeem (40), Atif (6 fours, one six) and Irfan (20). Farhan, Naeem and Amin picked up a wicket each. In reply, KAIA openers raced to a 122-run partnership with Majid doing bulk of the scoring to remain unbeaten on 73 (10 fours and 4 sixes). Neelam scored an unbeaten 36 runs with 7 fours as KAIA raced to 167 for the loss of 1 wicket. Reel & Rom thrashed Pak Young by 86 runs. Reel & Rom raced off with a solid start and amassed 207 for 3 in 20 overs. Nisar scored a stylish 82 with 9 fours and 5 sixes and was given good support by Wajid (26), Rashid (33) and Irfan (37 n.o.). Afridi took 2 for 22. In reply, Pak Young could not handle the Reel & Rom bowlers Rashid (4 for 20) and Qasim (4 for 20). Only Sajid (21), Zafar (17) and Abdullah (15) managed to reach double figures before the team was bundled out for 122 runs in 16.2 overs. Butt Sports crushed Al-Gudaid by 105 runs. Butt Sports started its innings on a positive note as it accumulated an impressive tally of 235 for 5. Mohammed Iqbal (54) and Junaid (41) led the onslaught with solid contributions. Later Atif added 56 not out (6 fours, 2 sixes) and Imran (52 not out). Amir (2 for 37) and Imtiaz (2 for 33) bowled economically. In reply, Al-Gudaid was packed off for a paltry 130 runs in 16 overs. Umar, Imran and Waqas took 2 wickets each for 21, 11 and 15 runs, respectively. Only Asad (39) and Tariq (40 not out) offered resistance as Butt Sports triumphed by 105 runs. MHA beat Al-Boroj by 7 wickets. Al-Boraj reached the 200 mark, ending its innings with 208 for 6. Rehan led the way with an impressive tally of 73 runs (7 fours, 4 sixes) and was given good support by Usman (40) and Fahad (28) as Riyaz (2 for 38) and Safdar (2 for 37) applied the brakes. However, what appeared to be a fighting total became a cakewalk for MHA as it raced to the target of 210 for the loss of 3 wickets in only 12.5 overs. Zainul Haque garnered most of the strike to remain unbeaten with a quick-fire 70 off 25 balls (7 fours, 5 sixes), while opener Shaad got out for an equally quick 59 runs off 20 balls (4 fours, 5 sixes), Hazrat Ali chipped in with 22 as MHA won handsomely by 7 wickets.
