The 13th Kanoo Inter Division Cricket League (WP) for 2009-10 kicked off with defending champion Finance prevailing narrowly over Travel by 6 runs while P&IP crushed Commercial by 9 wickets in the opening week matches. Finance started briskly with an opening partnership of 37 by Merchant 16 and Shabbir 18. Later the swashbuckling Sami Khan smashed 2 sixes and 3 fours in his 31. He was well supported by Misbah 23 and Qaisar 13 to enable their team set a formidable target of 149 in 15 overs. Travel bowlers Adnan (3-32), Junaid (2-36) and Moidoo and Venkit (one each) bowled well. In response, Travel put up a good fight with Junaid and Arif putting up an impressive opening partnership of 82. But they weren't patient enough to stay long as Junaid 43 got run out and Arif (KC) 25 was stumped by Sami at a crucial juncture. However. Adnan 25 and Arif (SQ) 42 not out batted fluently and frustrated their opponent before Adnan retired hurt. Finance bowled and fielded well to restrict Travel to 143-2 and win narrowly by 6 runs, thanks to a tight final over from Sami. Ehtesham of Finance took 1-32. Man of the Match: Junaid of Travel. P&IP made short work of Commercial by winning by 9 wickets. Commercial lost wickets at regular intervals at one end but at the other end Rafiuddin 26 kept the scoreboard ticking by scoring singles and doubles. He got some support from Aftab 17 and Sadiq 10. Commercial was unable to withstand the dual pace and spin attack of P&IP bowlers and was restricted to 84-7 in 15 overs. For P&IP Shafi and Noor claimed two wickets each and Najaf and Shams got one each. In reply, P&IP hit the target in just 6.2 overs, losing only 1 wicket. Matheen 39 and Abrar 19 remained unbeaten. Man of the Match: Matheenur Rahman of P&IP. In the second week matches, Kanoo Freight tied with Kanoo Travel as Kanoo Finance beat Kanoo P&IP by 3 wickets. Freight was off to a blazing start as openers Donald 28 and Oliver 21 made 46 in 5 overs. Thereafter it lost 3 quick wickets but skipper Fazal 41 not out and pinch-hitter Asad 22 set a competitive target of 136-7 in 15 overs. Junaid and Ibad (2 wickets each) and Adnan and Sadiq (1 each) bowled well. In reply, Travel lost opener Moidoo early but in-form Junaid 56 and Arif 16 steadied the innings before Freight's all-rounder Asad rocked Travel by picking 5 wickets for 19 in quick succession. He was well supported by Hameen and Mushtaq (2 wickets each) to restrict Travel to 136 all out on the last ball of the innings. Points were shared between Freight & Travel. Man of the Match: Asad of Freight. Despite skipper Matheenur Rahman's fine all-round performance of 52 and 5-25, Finance continued its supremacy over P&IP by defeating it by 3 wickets. This was Finance's fourth straight win in 3 years against P&IP who started aggressively by launching into the bowling of Finance despite losing opener Abrar early. But Matheen 52 in company of stylish Liyakat 29 used the long handle to telling effect and with good support from Shafi 10 and Irfan 12 took their side to 133-7 in 15 overs. Finance bowlers Nasir (2-28) and a wicket each by Indika, Sami Khan and Suresh did their best. In response Finance openers Merchant 23 and Shabbir 13 started well with 20 from the first 2 overs and soon reached 71-2 in 6 overs before Matheen struck 3 deadly blows in 3 balls taking a hat trick. He later went on to add 2 more to complete an impressive 5-25 but it was not enough as Sami (32), Indika (24) and old war horse Tasneem (14 not out) ensured Finance reach 135-7 in 13.4 overs. Man of the Match: Sami Khan of Finance. __
