Chemietech shine in BS Super Star T20 opener

Chemietech CC defeated Defenders CC by five wickets in the opening match of the BS Super Star T20 tournament played at the Eden Gardens in Ajman.

The event is being organised by BS Cricket League.

Defenders won the toss and elected to bat first. Opening batsman Wajid Khan (33) gave them a perfect start, hitting four boundaries and two sixes during his stay at the crease.

After Khan’s departure, Defenders lost two more wickets in quick succession -- in the space of just nine runs.

However, Nasir Aziz (19) and Umer Faroor (unbeaten 34) revived Defender's innings, and they finally posted 135 runs for the loss of eight wickets.

For Chemietech, Mehboob Ali and Babar Ghazanfar were their two most successful bowlers, claiming two Defenders' scalps each.

In reply, Chemietech achieved the target with two overs to spare.

Sapandeep Singh -- 52 0ff 26 balls -- and Asfaq Ahmed -- 43 off 39 balls -- did the bulk of scoring for the winners.

Ghazanfar hit an unbeaten 18 to ensure team’s victory. In another match, MGM Orakzai beat Karwan Strikers by 31 runs. MGM Orakzai batting first scored 218 for the loss of five wickets off
their allotted 20 overs. Skipper Asif Khan hit a quick-fire 43, including three sixes and an equal number of boundaries to give them a perfect start.

He was well supported by Hafiz Kaleem (15) as the duo had a 58-run stand for the opening wicket. After the fall of the first two wickets, Mohammed Waseem (35) and Rizwan CP (26) kept the momentum going.

Later, Amjad Gul, who top scored with 54 runs, and Mohamed Qasim (23), helped MGM Orakzai put up a target of 218.

Karwan Strikers in reply, were restricted to 187/7 by the MGM Orakzai bowlers. Wali Khan and Junaid Saddique ripped apart their rivals' batting line-up.

While Wali took four wickets from his four overs, Saddique claimed two wickets as between the two of them, they sent six of the top batsmen of Karwan Strikers’ back to the pavilion.
Karwan Strikers’ had started well as Azeem Ghumman along with Saqib Azeem shared an 80-run stand for the opening wicket.

Ghumman smashed 73 runs off 49 balls studded with nine boundaries and one over the ropes. Wali managed to remove Ghumman when the partnership was beginning to assume dangerous proportions.

He also took the wicket of Shakoor, who scored a quick-fire 40 off 23 balls.

Waheed Ahmad (15) and Fayyaz Ahmad (17) tried hard to keep Karwan Strikers in the hunt for a win but in the end, they fell well short, managing to reach 187 only.

A total of five teams, including Chemietech CC, Defenders CC, Karwan Strikers, MBM Gulf CC and MGM Orakzai are taking part in the tournament, the final of which will be held on May 29.