November 12, 2002	Tuesday	Ramazan 6, 1423

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LAHORE, Nov 11: Test discard Imran Farhat excelled with bat and ball to help PCB Blues score an exciting five-run win over PCB Whites in the opening match of the Super League One-day Ramazan Cup Cricket Tournament at Gaddafi Stadium Monday.

Set a target of 248 after five overs were deducted for slow over-rate, PCB Whites were all out for 242 in 44.1 overs.

Imran, bowling leg-spinners, conceded only 17 runs in 4.1 overs to  claim four wickets, including the crucial scalp of Qaiser Abbas, who was caught by skipper Azhar Mahmood at long-off for 41, which were scored off only 30 balls.

PCB Whites needed five runs in the final over with last pair of Zahid Saeed and Faisal Irfan at the crease. But Zahid in an attempt to take a single was unluckily run out after  Bilal  Asad’s throw from long-on uprooted the stumps at the bowler’s end.

Imran who also scored 35 runs was declared as Man-of-the-Match and was awarded a cash prize of Rs 5,000.

Earlier, another Test  discard Shadab Kabir batted with great authority to make a stylish 64 — the highest score of the match.

Shadab and skipper Naved Latif (49) laid a strong foundation for PCB Whites by adding 84 runs for the third wicket. But both were dismissed in quick succession.

Naved was out to pacer Abdur Rauf when he caught by Ijaz Ahmed Junior. He cracked two sixes and five boundaries in his 41-ball knock.

Six runs later at 151, the left-handed Shadab was caught behind by Atiq-uz-Zaman off Azhar Mahmood. Shadab’s 99-ball innings was laced with six fours.

Qaiser tried to maintain the momentum but his departure at 211 allowed PCB Blues to gain control.

PCB Blues were asked to bat first after losing the toss in overcast condition and quickly lost three  wickets for 44.

However, opener Imran and Asim Munir (44 off 28 balls, five fours, one six) led the recovery operation. Atiq-uz-Zaman then came in to play a vital knock of 42 off 51 balls with two fours.

A total of 53 extras too played their part and helped PCB Blues get a respectable score of 247 in 48.2 overs.

For PCB Whites, pacer Tahir Mughal grabbed three  wickets  for 29 while another paceman, Zahid Saeed, and slow left-armer Qaiser Abbas  took two wickets for 36 and 27 runs, respectively.

Besides  Imran, three others players were given cash prizes  of Rs 2,000 each. Naved got the prize for hitting maximum number of sixes. Shadab pocketed Rs  2,000 for hitting most boundaries while Atiq-uz-Zaman earned the prize for holding two catches.