30 January 2005	Sunday	19 Zilhaj 1425

LAHORE, Jan 29: A whirlwind knock by the Man-of-the-Match Arslan Mir and fine spell of leg spin by Imran Tahir helped Lahore Lions to lift the One-day cup after a lapse of 24 years, beating Sialkot Stallions by 95 runs in final at Qadhafi Stadium on Saturday.

Arslan struck an unbeaten 89 with nine fours and a six in a splendid 79- balls knock as Lions piled up 278 for five in allotted 45 overs after put in to bat first by Stallions' skipper Hafiz Khalid on a placid pitch.

The Stallions were in sound position while chasing the hard target when they Were placed at 131 for two by the end of 21st over.

But a batting collapse, triggered by Imran who finished with an economic figure of four for 24 runs ensured victory for Lions.

Imran removed the well set Shahid Yousaf (35, four fours, 33 balls), caught by Nasir Jamshed to break his third wicket breezy stand of 56 with their top-scorer Faisal Naveed.

That proved the turning point as Stallions and lost last seven wickets for only 52 runs to be all out at 183 in 36.4 overs.

Arslan, who also excelled with the leather, took two quick wickets as Lions kept pressure on the visitors Earlier Lions were in somewhat trouble when had lost three wickets at 84 including openers Imran Farhat (19) and Shahnawaz Malik (40, six fours, one six).

But Arslan involved in three vital partnerships as Lions set a formidable target for Stallions. Arslan and Nasir Jamshed (37) added 52 runs in the fourth wicket stand.

His second partnership with Humayun (20, one four, one six, 18 balls) of 42 in the fifth wicket and then the unbroken sixth wicket stand of 102 with Jehangir Mirza (46 three fours, one six, 41 balls) prospered the innings.

Humayun lifted the cup and also received a cash prize of Rs 300,000. Khalid received the runnersup prize of Rs 150,000. Humayun Farhat was named best wickekeeper, Faisal Athar of Hyderabad Hawks the best batsman, seamer Sarfraz Ahmed of Sialkot the best bowler while his teammate Mansoor Amjad the best fielder.

Scoreboard

LAHORE LIONS

Imran Farhat lbw Sarfraz 19

Shahnawaz Malik b Ali Imran 40

Nasir Jamshed c n b Faisal 37

Adnan Raza c Khalid b Ali Imran 4

Arslan Mir not out 89

Humayun Farhat c Ali Imran b Mansoor 20

Jahangir Mirza not out 46

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, W-5, NB-13) 23

TOTAL (for five wkts, 45 overs) 278

DID NOT BAT: Imran Qadir, Imran Tahir, Wasim Khan, Shahzad Butt.

FALL OF WKTS: 1-42-, 2-70, 3-84, 4-134, 5-176.

BOWLING: Sarfraz Ahmed 9-2-27-1; Muhammad Asif 9-0-60-0; Ali Imran Pasha 7-0-61-2; Faisal Naveed 5-0-32-1; Mansoor Amjad 9-0-54-1; Qaiser Abbas 6-0-39-0.

SIALKOT STALLIONS

Imran Nazir c Nasir b Shahzad 12

Faisal Naveed c Humayun b Arslan 51

Bilal Hussain c I Qadir b Shahzad 23

Shahid Yousaf c Nasir b I Tahir 35

Qaiser Abbas c n b I Tahir 1

Shahzad Malik St Humayun b Arslan 12

Mansoor Amjad run out 0

Hafiz Khalid c Nasir b Jahangir 8

Sarfraz Ahmed not out 14

Muhammad Asif st Humayun b I Tahir 10

Ali Imran Pasha c I Qadir b I Tahir 4

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-5, NB-5) 13

TOTAL (all out, 36.4 overs) 183

FALL OF WKTS: 1-41, 2-75, 3-131, 4-132, 5-143, 6-143, 7-147, 8- 164, 9-177.

BOWLING: Wasim Khan 7-1-42-0; Shahzad Butt 7-0-37-2; Arslan Mir 9-0-45-2; Imran Farhat 3-0-27-0; Imran Tahir 8.4-0-24-4; Jahangir Mirza 2-0-5-1.

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar-Riaz-ud-Din.

REFEREE: Azhar Khan.