Big wins for Punjab Lions, Moufflons, Zalmi and Riyaan in Cyprus T20 Cup

By Richard Boxall
The latest matches in the 2022 CCA #BAOGroup T20 Cup at Ypsonas cricket ground produced another run feast between Punjab Lions and Markhor, and a lower-scoring victory for Cyprus Moufflons over Napa Kings.

Punjab Lions are in the habit of amassing huge scores at this ground, and continued the trend with a mammoth score of 255-7 from their 20 overs. Neeraj Tiwari set the tone, marking a return to form by hitting a rapid 63. Then Kulwinder Singh capitalised on the fine start (119-2 inside 10 overs) by hitting 9 sixes in his 26-ball innings of 71.

In the circumstances Hamza Rehman’s bowling – only conceding 14 runs from his 4 overs – was remarkably economical, while his skipper Amir Sohail took 3 wickets.
Once again Markhor made a brave attempt to chase their target. Hamza followed his bowling with a knock of 56, with some support from Zeeshan Ahmad (32) and Shahzad Ahmed (23) but no-one played the major innings that was needed. Markhor finished on 194-8, with Lions’ Tejwinder Singh taking 3-33.

Napa Kings’ ten men were only able to muster 63 runs against Cyprus Moufflons, for whom Waqar Ali had the terrific figures of 5-9. The match was over inside 5 overs of the Moufflons reply, as Zeeshan Sarwar (22) and Mehran Khan (38 not out) ensured a 9-wicket win.

Alongside the T20 league, a separate 10-over competition is being played by those teams that did not reach the Super-6 stage of the T20, and this has now reached the quarter-final stage after a series of group matches.

In the first of these Amdocs took on Limassol rivals Zalmi, and made 87-4 in their 10 overs, thanks to Hitesh Thadani (25 not out) and Srikanth Komiripalepu (28). Babar Ayub took 2-16 in his two overs.

Zalmi passed the Amdocs score inside 7 overs, with Abbas Khan hitting 41 not out from just 12 balls, supported by Murtaza Khan (24).
The other quarter final played at the weekend resulted in an 85-run win for Riyaan over Cyprus Super Kings. Waqas Akhtar (88 not out) and Awais Liaqat (40) took Riyaan to an impressive 155-3 in their 10 overs, and the same two players also led the way with the ball, with Waqar taking 2-9 and Awais 3-8, supported by Umar Farooq (2-8). The Super Kings had no answer and succumbed to 69-9.

Riyaan and Zalmi progress to the semi finals, which will be played on 18 September, with the final a week later.

T20 Super-Six Standings:

1 Punjab Lions – played 3, points 30

2 Black Caps – p 4, pts 30

3 Cyprus Moufflons – p 3, pts 20

4 Sri Lanka Lions – p 2, pts 10

5 Markhor – p 4, pts 10

6 Napa Kings – p 4, pts 0