MUSCAT: The first semi-finals of the PSM Ramadan cricket tournament proved to be a thriller with the situation dwindling in a see-saw battle.

Smile Strikers won the toss and elected to bat first. Opener Tauseef started the innings with a bang hitting sixes at his will all around the ground in front of a cheering crowd, enjoying every minute of this encounter.

Smile Strikers scored 123 for 4 in 8 overs thanks to a blistering knock of 74 not out by Tauseef with 9×6 3×4. Bilal was the most successful bowler to get 2 wickets for Shaheen X1 Mawaleh.

In reply, Shaheen X1 too fought like lions Asim and Farooq of Shaheen X1 took the Smile Strike bowlers with their bats and smashed sixes in every over, the game was in the balance as both the batters played heroic knocks.

During the dying moments of the game, Shaheen X1 seems to be losing in the last 3 overs but Asim and Farooq bring them in the last over to get 13 runs but a no-ball with a six by Farooq brought them back to win the match to get 5 runs in 3 balls but some outstanding bowling by smile Strikers brought them victory by just 3 runs.

More than half a dozen catches were dropped by Smile Strikers but they scape and stormed into finals to be played on Wednesday, April 27, at 9.30 PM. Tauseef was unanimously declared as the MOM and was presented a trophy by Qamar Riaz, the chief guest of the evening.

Brief Scores: Smile Strikers 123 for 4, Tauseef 74 m Shaheen X1 120 for 4 wickets, Asim 47 and Farooq 42. Earlier Smile Strikers beat Lamha Signs and Asfandyar X1 beat Ayan X1 to qualify for the semi-finals.