JEDDAH — The Indian Youth Welfare Association (IYWA) team beat the Consulate General of India (CGI) squad by 5 wickets to win a festival cricket match organized to commemorate India's 65th Republic Day here recently. The match was organized by IYWA and sponsored by Saudi Cricket Centre (SCC) while Jeddah Cricket Association (JCA) hosted the match at its cricket complex in Usfan. Beside the cricket match, games and competitions were also organized for the families of the Indian Consulate staff and the IYWA members. Al-Ryan International Polyclinic Jeddah, Touch Point and Blippar, represented by Nomaan Abdul Majeed, sponsored the activity. Hyderabad Sweet House, Shadab Restaurant and Mehfil Restaurant distributed special sweets. CGI-XI, electing to bat first, scored 135 for 9 wickets in its quota of 20 overs. The openers, Noor Rahman Sheikh (4) and Pranav Ganesh (5), were sent packing by paceman Aslam. CGI-XI skipper Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, who came one down, displayed some good stroke play before he was clean bowled by Mushtaq for 12 runs. N.P. Singh contributed useful 16 runs. Raghib Qureshi was unlucky to be run out and Aijaz Khan was caught brilliantly by Fazal Ali off Nadeem Nadwi's bowling. Nadeem Saad Nadwi (29), Rohan (18) and Lalit Kumar Roy (14) later made useful contributions to take the total to 135 runs. Aslam, Mushtaq and Humayun Farooq claimed two wickets each, while captain Nadeem Nadwi took one wicket for IYWA-XI. In reply, IYWA-XI reached 137 for the loss of 5 wickets in 14.1 overs. Waseem Mukadam was clean bowled by Lalit Kumar Roy for nought, while the other opening batsman Esa Bin Shabibi remained unbeaten on 57. He hit seven fours in his match-winning innings. Others who contributed to IYWA-XI's win were skipper Nadeem Nadwi (17 not out), Qadeer Masood (16), Aslam (10) and Fazal Ali (9 not out). Lalit Kumar Roy & N.P. Singh bagged two wickets each. Esa Bin Shabibi was named Man-of-the-Match and Best Batsman, while Nadeem Nadwi was named Best Bowler. A prize distribution function was held after the match. Aijaz Ahmed Khan was the master of ceremony, while S.P. Singh, IYWA President, gave a welcome address. He thanked Faiz Ahmed Kidwai for accepting the invitation and said the event will be organized every year. All the speakers praised the organizers for arranging this colorful event and said that it was be great to see all the Indians together celebrating the Independence day along with families. IYWA captain Nadeem Nadwi received the winner's trophy, while Noor Rahman Sheikh, vice captain of CGI-XI, was given the runner-up cup on behalf of CG Faiz Ahmed Kidwai. All the players were awarded medals. JCA awarded a plaque of appreciation to Faiz Ahmed Kidwai for his support to the game of cricket. CGI-XI team: Faiz Ahmad Kidwai (captain), Noor Rahman Sheikh (vice captain), Yashaswi Roy, Pranav Ganesh, Lalit Kumar Roy, N.P. Singh, Sandeep Kumar Singh, Om Prakash, Ravi Singh, Shiv Prasad, Amjad Shareef, Saud Bin Salam, Philip Mathew, Rohan Prasad, Mohammad R. Qureshi and Aijaz Ahmed Khan (Manager). IYWA-XI team: Nadeem Nadwi (captain), Humayun (vice captain), Surendrapal Singh, Zubair Mohammed, Mohammad Anwar Ul Haq, Waseem Mukadam, Mohsin Ali, Mustafa Ali Khan, Mir Fazal Ali, Azhar Ali Khan, Esa Bin Shabibi, Mohammed Aslam Shareef, Mushtaq Masood, Qadeer Masood, Syed Baqer Ali and Mir Gazanfar Ali Zaki (Manager). Khalil Kazi and Shameem Ahmed were the umpires.
