The National Cricket Championship was launched on Jan. 29, and played all over Saudi Arabia RIYADH: Punjab Green Cricket Club of the Riyadh Cricket League (RCL) won the National Cricket Championship 2021 played at the NOFA Resort on the outskirts of Riyadh on Friday. Punjab Evergreen scored 185 in 20 overs after they won the toss and elected to bat first. Chasing the big total, Arkan Sports could not keep up with the required run rate and lost early wickets quickly and were all out at 141 in 15.2 overs. Nabeel Abbas of Punjab, who was pick of the bowlers, claimed five wickets in his four overs spell was declared man of the match. Shaheen Khan was the top scorer for the victors, scoring 81 offjust 40 balls. Another top scorer for the side were Zahoor Ahmad (38 off 30 balls), captain Munir Ahmed (33 off just 18 balls). #WATCH: Arkan Sports Club and the Punjab Green Cricket Club are meeting on the final of #SaudiArabia"s National Cricket Championship 2021 at the NOFA Resort @cricketsaudi @Saudi_SFA https://t.co/uwMVLWpPeF pic.twitter.com/bAcDld5LJR — Arab News (@arabnews) June 25, 2021 Ishaq Ahmed of Arkan Sports took 3-wickets in his spell of 2.5 overs whereas and Khurshid Khan and Daisal Khan took two wickets each. The top scorers for the side were Bilal Ahmed (33 off 13 balls), Inamullah Khan (28 off 21 Balls), Ishaq Ahmed (16 in 13 balls) and Taimur Khan (14 in 7 balls). Speaking to Arab News, Muneer Ahmed, captain of winning team, said: “Thankfully we won the final match, this is a very great victory for us. We are feeling very excited. We played National Cricket Championship on lush green ground for the first time, it was a great experience for us.” Abdul Waheed, captain of runners-up Arkan sports said: “We are very thankful to the Saudi Arabian Cricket Federation to manage this kind of cricket championship in Saudi Arabia, we were unbeatable winning all league matches, quarterfinals and semifinals, but we were unlucky today to lose this grand finale. “Unfortunately it is a part of our game and we lost it today,” he added. Both the captains thanked the SACF who, in-partnership with the Sports For All Federation (SFA), organized the championship, which they said will help in improving cricket in Saudi Arabia. #WATCH: Captain of #Saudi National Cricket Championship runners-up Arkan Sports speaks to @arabnews about - despite defeat in the final - the joy of having a tournament of high standard in #SaudiArabia https://t.co/zt6fIy4B6c pic.twitter.com/tCVjyN7NUL — Arab News (@arabnews) June 25, 2021 The final match was followed by a prize distribution ceremony to winners and runners up and players of the tournament. The final and the awards ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries including chief guest Prince Fahd bin Jalawi who is the vice president of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, SFA president and Prince Saud bin Mishaal, chairman of the SACF. Various ambassadors from cricket-playing countries also attended the grand finale. Indian ambassador to the Kingdom Ausaf Sayeed congratulated SACF for the very successful National Cricket Championship 2021. #WATCH: Celebrations well on their way at the #Saudi National Cricket Championship 2021 @cricketsaudi @Saudi_SFA https://t.co/zt6fIy4B6c pic.twitter.com/gIzHzmSsPI — Arab News (@arabnews) June 25, 2021 “I earlier had a very useful discussion with Prince Saud to find ways and means of how India could collaborate with the SACF for promoting cricket,” he said. “We also discussed the possibility of inviting a team from India next year as part of 75 years of India-Saudi Arabia diplomatic relations. "We are happy that the south Asian diaspora is getting its due share of attention by the leadership.” The National Cricket Championship was launched on Jan. 29, and played all over Saudi Arabia, with more than 6,800 cricketers competing in Saudi Arabia’s largest-ever cricket tournament, with matches in 11 cities. Players from 369 teams representing 15 local cricket associations took part in the five-month long championship.