LAHORE - SAGA Punjab and SAGA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded impressive triumphs in the SAGA Premier League (SPL) opening day matches played here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.
In the inaugural match of the tournament, SAGA Punjab defeated SAGA Sindh by 15 runs. SAGA Punjab, batting first, scored 121 runs for loss of six wickets in 20 overs. Muneeba Ali was top scorer with 34 runs while Aliya Riaz added 25 runs and Irum Javaid contributed 20 and Javaria Khan 17 runs. Hafsa Amjad picked up two wickets for 22 runs for Sindh. In reply, SAGA Sindh could manage to score 106 runs in the allotted 20 overs losing nine wickets in the process. Ayesha Zafar slammed 44 runs, Fazila Ikhlaq 22 and Rabia Shah 17 but they couldn't save their team from facing defeat. Javaria Khan (2-8), Sadia Yousaf (2-9) and Aliya Riaz (2-21) bowled well for the winners.
In the second match of the day, SAGA KPK, batting first, managed to score 105 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Bismah Maroof was top scorer for KPK as she hammered 33 runs while Kainat Hafeez contributed 29. Ayesha Amjad took one wicket for 15 runs for Baluchistan. In reply, Baluchistan team could score 83 runs in the allotted 20 overs losing seven wickets. Only Sana Urooj (28) and Marina Iqbal (21) reached the double figures. Almas Akram was pick of Sindh bowlers as she grabbed three wickets for nine runs.
Today (Wednesday), SAGA Baluchistan will take on SAGA Sindh in the first match while SAGA KPK will vie against SAGA Punjab in the second match.
SUMMARISED SCORES:
SAGA PUNJAB: 121 for 6 wickets in 20 overs (Muneeba Ali 34, Aliya Riaz 25, Javaid 20, Javaria Khan 17; Hafsa Amjad 2-22).
SAGA SINDH: 106 for 9 wickets in 20 overs (Ayesha Zafar 44, Fazila Ikhlaq 22, Rabia Shah 17; Javaria Khan 2-8, Sadia Yousaf 2-9, Aliya Riaz 2-21).
SAGA KPK: 105 for 5 wickets in 20 overs ( Bismah Maroof 33, Kainat Hafeez 29, Ayesha Amjad 1-15)
SAGA BALUCHISTAN: 83 for 7 wickets in 20 overs (Sana Urooj 28, Marina Iqbal 21, Almas Akram 3-9).