December 16, 2001	Sunday	Ramazan 30, 1422

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KARACHI, Dec 15: Hosts Aga Khan Gymkhana (AKG) won their first-ever Ramazan cricket title when they defeated Landhi Friends by four wickets in the final of AKG festival at their own ground here Saturday.

Chasing 167 for victory, AKG won a nail-biting encounter off the penultimate delivery of the final.

Man-of-the-Match Suleman Huda struck 65 off 61 deliveries with the aid of four fours and one six. Tariq Haroon also batted well to contribute 40 at run-a-ball with two hits to the fence.

Zulfiqar P. Khan, the AKG skipper, received the winners trophy and a cash prize of Rs 25,000 from the AKG chairman Nooruddin Lakhani, who graced the occasion as the chief guest.

Earlier, Landhi Friends, who got the runners-up trophy and a cash award of Rs 15,000, made 166 for three in their 25 overs after being asked to bat first.

Opener Mohammad Zafar played a superb knock of 71 that lasted 58 balls and included five fours. Zahid Ali remained undefeated on 41 off 34 balls with three fours and one six.

AKG’s Jaffar Qureshi was declared the Man-of-the-Tournament while two of team-mates, Javed Mansoor and Salim A. Rahim were adjudged best batsman and best fielder respectively.

Slow left-armer Sami Faridi of Hamdam CC claimed the best bowler award.

Summarized scores:

LANDHI FRIENDS 166-3 in 25 overs (Mohammad Zafar 71, Zahid Ali 41 not out, Aaley Haider 26; Zulfiqar P. Khan 2-31);

AGA KHAN GYMKHANA 167-6 in 24.5 overs (Suleman Huda 65, Tariq Haroon 40, Arif Pyarali 22; Mohammad Masroor 2-33).