studded Sultan Al-Abideen-XI, which had emerged champion in the recently concluded tournament by 19 runs while JCA Premier champion team Hijaz-XI downed an emerging Saudi German Hospital team by 4 wickets in the semifinal matches of the JCA Premier Division which is sponsored by ACE Travels & Tours and organized by the Jeddah Cricket Association. Najamuddin stars in Kanoo's Victory against SAA-XI. Kanoo opted to bat first and made 219-4 in the allotted 18 overs. Openers Junaid (16) and Rashid Khursheed (40) gave a rousing start. One down Tabrez built the Kanoo innings, scoring a valuable 53 runs in 27 balls before he was run out. He hit four fours and three sixes. But the man who helped Kanoo post a huge total was Najamuddin who made an unbeaten 86 off 37 balls with a dozen fours and three sixes. Captain Majid Siddiqui was bowled by Yousuf for 6. Rahil took 2-27 and Yousuf 1-17. In reply, Sultan Al-Abideen-XI reached 200-8 in the allotted overs. The lanky right-arm fast bowler Sadique Merchant removed openers Guddu and Mohammad Irfan Qureshi. Saadique's partner Mansoor had Qaisar for 9 but a a consistent Hazrath Ali stood firm to make 71. Rahil made 43, Faraz 24, Yousuf 18 and Wasieh 10. Sadique Merchant claimed 2-37, Rashid Khursheed 2-36, Najamuddin 2-48, Mansoor 1-23 and Majid Siddique 1-57. in the other match, Saudi German Hospital, batting first, made 173-7 against Hijaz-XI. Irfan (24) was the highest scorer, followed by Adnan (23), Aftab (20), Assad (16), Amer (15) and Hassan (15). Fast bowler Sohail took 2-26, Wahaj 2-42, while Saeed Amoudi, Imran and Afroz got one wicket each. In reply, Hijaz-XI reached 176-6 in 16 overs. Ayaz, who made 67, was the Man of the Match, while experienced Wajid Samdani made quickfire 51. Wahaj hit 11 and Sadath 10. Aftab claimed 3-40 while Irfan, Assad and Younus got one wicket each. The semifinals were officiated by Kumar Krishnan, Zahid Khan, Abdul Jaleel and Mohammad Fareed. __
