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| November 5, 2001 | Monday | haba’an 18, 1422 |
NBP crowned champions
KARACHI, Nov 4: National Bank, led by discarded Test leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, clinched the Patron’s Trophy Grade-I National Cricket Championship for the first time in 15 seasons when they trounced Wapda by 10 wickets at Sheikhupura Stadium Sunday.
According to details available, National Bank needed just 13 overs to make short work of their meagre target of 95 with Test opener Imran Nazir smashing an unbeaten 60 off 41 deliveries on the penultimate day of the four-day fixture.
By virtue of their fifth victory in eight matches, National Bank extended their lead in the standings to 18 points as closest rivals and last season’s champions Pakistan Customs crashed to defeat in their duel with KRL in Hyderabad.
The 12 points from this victory lifts National Bank’s tally to 60 with one round remaining in the 10-team tournament. The only interest now remains as to which team finishes as the runners-up when the championship winds up next Sunday.
National Bank, who were ironically the runners-up last season, have now won the title on five occasions, having been crowned champions in 1974-75, 1975-76, 1978-79 and 1986-87.
The bankers also have three Grand Slams to their credit, winning both the Patron’s Trophy and Quaid-i-Azam Trophy in the same season — 1975-76, 1978-79 and 1986-87. National Bank also lifted the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy in 1981-82 and 1983-84 which means they have now won first-class honours 10 times.
Resuming their second innings at 23 for one Sunday, Wapda were dismissed for 134 with opener Kashif Rasheed the only batsman to offer some resistance. He compiled 48 off 120 deliveries with five boundaries.
Mushtaq Ahmed and left-arm fast bowler Zahid Saeed shared six wickets between for 14 and 24 runs respectively while right-arm speedster Shabbir Ahmed claimed two for 51.
Imran Nazir slammed 12 fours as National Bank reached 96 without loss. Hanif-ur-Rehman remained unbeaten with 27 off 37 balls, striking three fours and one six.
WAPDA (1st Innings) 145 (Zahid Saeed 4-65).
NATIONAL BANK (1st Innings) 185 (Hanif-ur-Rehman 62; Kashif Raza 4-57).
WAPDA (2nd Innings, 23-1):
Kashif Rasheed c Kamran b Zahid 48
Shiraz Butt c Nauman b Mushtaq 11
Aqeel Ahmed c Sajid b Shabbir 8
Rizwan Malik b Sami 10
Adil Nisar c Kamran b Zahid 19
Shoaib Khan lbw b Shabbir 2
Tariq Aziz not out 15
Ikramullah lbw b Mushtaq 12
Waqas Ahmed c Sami b Mushtaq 1
Kashif Raza run out 0
Imranullah b Zahid 0
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, NB-3) 8
TOTAL (all out, 54.5 overs) 134
FALL OF WKTS: 1-23, 2-43, 3-54, 4-102, 5-105, 6-106, 7-131, 8-133, 9-134.
BOWLING: Mohammad Sami 12-1-38-1 (2nb); Shabbir Ahmed 18-4-51-2; Mushtaq Ahmed 9-2-14-3; Qaiser Abbas 3-2-2-0; Zahid Saeed 12.5-3-24-3.
NATIONAL BANK (2nd Innings):
Imran Nazir not out 60
Hanif-ur-Rehman not out 27
EXTRAS (LB-8, W-1) 9
TOTAL (for no wkt, 13 overs) 96
BOWLING: Waqas Ahmed 5-0-38-0; Shiraz Butt 3-0-10-0; Aqeel Ahmed 5-0-40-0.
RESULT: National Bank won by 10 wickets.
UMPIRES: Z.I. Pasha and Aleem Dar.
MATCH REFEREE: Saadat Ali.
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