THE CHAMPION … East Zone Team with the SSB Challenge Trophy
TAWAU : The Sabah Softwoods Berhad (SSB) Challenge Trophy Inter Zones Cricket Tournament made its debut at the Tawau Padang Stadium. The Challenge Trophy is donated and sponsored by Sabah Softwoods Berhad. The West Coast Zone (formerly the West Coast and the Interior Residencies) and the East Coast Zone (formerly the Tawau and the Sandakan Residencies) battled for the trophy over two days during the weekends
On the first day, playing under a perfect weather, the East Zone won the toss and Captain Sophiaan Lahidu elected to bat first and it proved to be a disastrous decision. The West Zone bowlers had a field day and really took advantage of the weather and fast wicket condition.
The East Zone was bowled out for only 110 runs all out. But the East Zone bowlers had a better idea on home ground advantage lead by a 17 year old student left arm opening bowler Zulkifli Abdul Rashid from SMK Tawau II destroyed and bundled out West Zone for only 62 runs. Zulkifli took 6 wickets for 27 runs and was named “Man of the Match”. First day won by East Zone.
On the second day the West Zone won the toss and Captain Mansalasah Musa put in East Zone to bat first, the decision was disastrous as their bowlers could not take advantage of the fine weather condition and allowed the East Zone batsmen to piled up 153 runs.
East Zone top batsman Muhd Haziq Zainuddin a teacher from SMK Desa Kencana Lahad Datu who was in fine form scored 55 runs. In respond to the East Zone score, West Zone only managed a total of 133 runs at stumps drawn for the day. Only Mohd Afiq 27 runs not out and Mohd Shawn 19 runs reached double figures. Muhd Haziq Zainuddin was named “Man of the Match” and East Zone won on second day to capture the SSB Challenge Trophy for year 2019. The only consolation for West Zone is Mohd Shawn Haikal was named Best Overall Performance.
During the prize presentation, Hj. Alfian Abdul Rahman, the President of Sabah Cricket Association, thanked the Chief Executive Officer of Sabah Softwood Berhad, Mohd Hatta Jaafar for donating the trophy and sponsoring the Annual Tournament as part of their company social responsibility (CSR), Assistant Finance Minister Saripuddin Hatta for officiating the closing ceremony and presenting the challenge trophy to the winner.
Alfian also thanked the organising committee especially Datuk Amrullah Kamal, Tawau Municipal Council President, for his presence and cooperation and in making the Padang Stadium in top condition for cricket. Also present during the closing ceremony were former Sabah and national cricketers.
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