MCH Premier Lift ACE Premier Cup in JCA; Usman excels

Jeddah: MCH Premier crushed sister team MCH Blazer by a whopping margin of 185 runs, the biggest for a final, to lift the Ace Premier Division Cup for the 1st time. With 2 titles under their belt – SPL and Kanoo – the Ace Premier Cup being the 3rd which makes MCH Premier the undisputed Champions for 2015-16. The Ace Premier League is sponsored by Ace Travel and Tours and organized by Jeddah Cricket Association.

Batting first on winning the toss, MCH Premier lost the early wicket of Qamar Awan in the 2nd over of the innings. Thereafter Irfan and Kashif took over the mantle and put on 112 runs partnership for the 2nd wicket. Irfan being the more aggressive hit quick-fire 73 of 28 balls with 4 sixes and 9 fours while Kashif, who contended to play second fiddle, scored 76 runs of 48 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes.

After the departure of the duo, there was a middle order collapse with the wickets of Shahbaz, Imran, Naeem and Abu Huraira. However, a late flourish by Usman with some powerful hitting to score an unbeaten 44 runs in 12 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes boosted MCH Premier tally to 246 for 7 in 20 overs.

Asim and Rizwan were the pick of the bowlers taking 3 for 58 and 3 for 49 respectively with Adnan picked up 1 for 19. The total proved too much for MCH Blazers who started losing wickets like nine pins and were bundled out for a paltry 61 runs in 9 overs only with only Nadeem scoring 37 runs of 16 balls with 5 sixes and a four while none of the other batsmen entered double figures as the fiery pace bowling spell from MCH Premier bowlers was extremely difficult for them to handle.

Abu Huraira with 4 for 7 in 3 overs, Usman who after his splendid batting performance, picked up 3 wickets for 2 runs, while Adnan chipped in with 2 for 37 and Imran 1 for 15. MCH Premier devastated MCH Blazers to lift the coveted Ace Premier Division Cup.

After the final, the prize distribution presentation was held where Chief Guest Mr. Shamshad Khan, Finance Director of Ace Travel and Tours congratulated the Winner MCH Premier and runner up MCH Blazers. He thanked JCA for giving Ace Travel and Tours an opportunity to support the cricketing community and assured JCA of Ace management’s continuous support as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities and promise of increased support for sporting in future.

JCA CEO Muhammad Iqbal thanked the Ace management in general and Ashfaq Aleem (General Manager, Saudi Arabia), Mohammed Ali Jarrar (Regional Director) and Shamshad Khan (Finance Director) in particular for their solid support in sponsoring JCA for the last 8 years. Shamshad Khan handed over the Winner Cup to MCH Premier and Runner-up Cup to MCH Blazers and performance awards to outstanding players.

Other awards that were presented were in categories for Best Batsman and Best All Rounder Ateeq Mansha of MB Stars (461 runs and 12 wickets), Best Bowler Mohammed Imran of MCH Premier (28 Wickets), Man of the Final Usman of MCH Premier (44 Runs and 3 wickets for 2 runs), best Partnership 171 Runs between Kashif and Irfan of MCH Premier, Hat trick and Best Emerging Player award Mohammed Imran of MCH Premier (8 for 17) and Best Wicket-keeper Babar Hussain of MCH Premier.

Mahmood Hussain and Syed Azam served as Umpires, Kumar as Match Refree while Shakeel as Scorer.

By: Aijaz Ahmed Khan