Avengers off to flying start in SMB Trophy

RAWALPINDI: Defending champions AMB Avengers were off to a flying start by winning their both matches on the first day of the third SMB Trophy here at the Army Heritage Ground on Thursday.

The tournament is being organised by Rawalpindi Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat to celebrate birthdays of their spiritual leaders late Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin and Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin.

Six teams from various Dawoodi Bohra localities in Karachi along with community’s cricket teams from Hyderabad and hosts Rawalpindi are participating in the four-day tournament, which is being organised for the third successive year. The eight-a-side tournament will be played on single league basis with top four teams qualifying for the semi-finals.

Director General Army Heritage Foundation Brig Zaman Nasrullah Khan Niazi was the chief guest on the occasion and declared the tournament open in a simple but impressive ceremony. President of Dawoodi Bohra Jamaat Rawalpindi Janab Murtaza Bhai Saheb and other community elders were also present on the occasion.

AMB Avengers captain Naeem Tayyab, a first class cricketer, led the team from the front in a convincing 31-run win against Yousufi Yorkers in the first match.Naeem scored six fours in a whirlwind knock of unbeaten 35 with six fours and Mustansir Saifuddin made aggressive 32 off 15 balls in Avengers’ strong total of 80-3 off their allotted six overs.

Yorkers were then restricted to 49-3 with Mohammad Lotia top-scoring with unbeaten 23. Naeem took 1-11 off his off-spin bowling as Yorkers never looked to threaten a strong Avengers’ total.

Avengers notched another easy four-wicket victory against Burhani Bionics as they reached the target of 67 for the loss of three wickets in 4.3 overs.Naeem played a main role in restricting Bionics to 66-5 by grabbing two wickets for just six runs. Adnan Ratlam, who last year represented Avengers but is now leading Bionics, top scored with 28 off 11 deliveries with three sixes and a four as his team could score 66-5.

Mustafa Qutbuddin made a rapid 22 off eight balls to guide Avengers home with nine balls to spare.Taheri Tigers, Adam Alpines, Saleh Strikers and Hyderabad Hurricanes all opened their accounts with one win after playing two matches each on the opening day.

However, lady luck didn’t smile on hosts Rawalpindi Royals who are at the bottom of the points table after losing both their matches — against Bionics and Yorkers.After losing by three wickets against Bionics, Royals seemed to be in the run before losing a thrilling nail-biter by three runs against Yorkers.

Yorkers scored 66-1 with Mohammad Lotia scoring 37 off 19 balls and Muntasir Nasir making 28.Needing 12 off the last over, Rawalpindi captain Hussain Youshe Murad (25 not out) and Ali Sh. Zainuddin Adamjee (16) could score only eight off Ammar Zohaib’s last six deliveries.Ali scored a crucial boundary off the fifth delivery but got stumped off the last ball as he looked for the winning boundary.

In the most thrilling match of the day, Saleh Strikers recorded a 1-run win over Taheri Tigers after scoring only 49-4.Tigers needed two runs off the last ball, but their batsman Saifuddin Maqadam (22) got run out off the last ball while going for the second run. However, to the much delight of the Strikers, umpire declared the first run short to hand them a narrow victory.