Saudi Arabia | ERCA T20 season 2018-19: Highlights from week 1

In Saudi Arabia, where expats are working day and night, cricket can be the sports that bring them together every week, where people from several countries and races play this beautiful game. And this past week, history was witnessed when first ever delivery was bowled by Zahid Akhtar of Abbotabad Tigers C C during the 1st ever T20 tournament organized under the superb banner of Eastern Region Cricket Association (ERCA). It is a banner for every cricket lover in the region, where cricket is played in the best of its spirit amongst all the players.

Mr Abdul Latif, CEO of ERCA along with Sayed Majaz Qadri (President ERCA) and Mr Imran Rasheed (VP ERCA), have put up a great effort in providing land for the grounds and making it fertile for the cricket.

A whole team of people under the  supervision of Mr. Tajamal Hayat the General Secretary and Ashraf Shiekh the supporting figure of ERCA has worked effortlessly, to make the grounds as smooth as possible so that the teams would be able to put up an extra ordinary show of cricket.

And exactly the same happened during the first game of ERCA, Al Tuwairqi T20 Cup, which was played between Eastern Arabia C.C and Abbotabad Tigers C.C, where Eastern Arabia C.C batting first scored a mamoth total of 252/10 in their alloted 20 overs. Abdul Rahman played a brilliant knock of 75 on just 35 deliveries which was assisted with some brilliant batting from Mohammad Aris and Afwan Mohammad, both of them scoring 41(22) and 39(15) respectively. In reply Abbotabad Tigers C.C could only manage a total of 144/9, in which Amjad Khan was the star performer who managed to score 38(32) runs.  Abdul Rahman was the man of the match for his aggressive 75(35) and also for grabbing 3 wickets for just 14 runs.

In another game played between SAB Warriors C.C and Britam Arabia Mavericks C.C, played at the Qaddafi Ground, SAB Warriors were able to score 178/6 in 20 overs. Salahuddin Salman played a brilliant opening knock of 70 runs on just 50 deliveries along with the help of Tayyab Khalil who scored 47(24). Mutaiyyub Saleem and Nawab Omer Ali managed to grab 2 wickets for Mavericks C.C. In reply Britam Arabia Mavericks C.C were bowled out on 98 runs only in which Nayab Irfan was the highest scorer, who managed to score 22(27). Man of the match was awarded to Mr. Salahuddin Salman for his brilliant batting.

Another game was played between Al Tuwairqi C.C & Blue Star C.C on ERCA Ground named after the famous Indian Stadium, the Eden Gardens. Batting first, Al Tuwairqi C.C managed to score 153/6 in 20 overs. Aftab Magre was the star performer with the bat, scoring 34 runs on just 29 deliveries. Muhammad Iqbal took 3 wickets for Blue Star C.C.

In reply Blue Stars C.C chased the total in 18 overs with two wickets in hand. Muhammad Ashraf from Blue Stars scored 50 runs on just 32 deliveries by hitting 4 Fours and 2 huge sixes. MuhammadAshraf was awarded the man of the match for his brilliant fifty that helped his team in winning the match.

Another match played at Galle Ground in the afternoon session, witnessed the first ever 5 wicket haul, when Kiran Gorizillah of Kites C.C bagged five batsmen of Pasha XI C.C and managed to contain them for just 137/8 in 20 overs. In reply Kites C.C was able to achieve 114/8 before bad light struck and the match had to be abandoned with awarding 1 point to both the teams. Man of the match was awarded to Kiran Gorizilla for his outstanding 5 wickets haul.