KARACHI, Sept 21: Liaquatabad-Gulshan Zone (LGZ) completed an emphatic 210-run victory over Nazimabad-Asifabad Zone on Wednesday to ensure the Karachi region title of the PCB Inter-district senior cricket championship is theirs, barring any miracle in the final round.
By virtue of their fourth win in six matches, LGZ (18 points) not only opened a four-point lead over nearest challengers Federal ‘B’ Area-New Karachi Zone (FBANKZ), but also considerably improved their net run-rate.
FBANKZ, who face North Nazimabad-Orangi Zone in the last round of matches from Friday, now require a big win to overhaul LGZ on the points table.
Already in strife at 21 for four at the start of the second day, Nazimabad-Asifabad Zone innings lasted another 25 overs before being sent packing for 84 all out in 37 overs at the students sports ground.
The only batsman to resist LGZ’s bowling was opener Tariq Rasheed who made 44 with seven hits to the fence. Off-spinner Mansoor Khan led from the front as the skipper bagged four for 12. Left-arm paceman Nasir Khan finished with three for 25.
Old Karachi Zone (OKZ) recorded a 109-run win against Landhi-Korangi Zone (LKZ) at the Landhi Gymkhana ground. Chasing 325, LKZ were dismissed for 215 in the 52nd over with pacers Shakaib Ahmed (4-99) and Saad Umar (3-47) doing most of the damage.
Reigning champions Malir-Shah Faisal Zone (MSFZ), meanwhile, scored a facile 71-run victory over North Nazimabad-Orangi Zone at the TMC ground with spinners Azam Hussain (4-48) and Ariz Kamal (4-56) taking bowling honours.
SUMMARISED SCORES:
At TMC Ground: Mali-Shah Faisal Zone beat North Nazimabad-Orangi Zone by 71 runs. MALIR-SHAH FAISAL ZONE 216 in 75.1 overs (Ariz Kamal 48, Nasir Aziz 46, Mohammad Farrukh 37; Saeed Khan 2-31, Tabish Nawab 2-46, Nauman Alvi 2-50); NORTH NAZIMABAD-ORANGI 145 in 56.4 overs (Asad Shafiq 33; Azam Hussain 4-48, Ariz Kamal 4-56).
At Landhi Gymkhana Ground: Old Karachi Zone beat Landhi-Korangi Zone by 109 runs. OLD KARACHI ZONE 324 in 85.4 overs (Ahmed Zeeshan Malik 97, Agha Sabir 57, Afsar Nawaz 55, Rameez Raja 44; Malik Aftab 4-69, Atif Maqbool 4-86); LANDHI-KORANGI ZONE 215 in 51.3 overs (Sajid Qureshi 43 not out, Mohammad Masroor 38; Shakaib Ahmed 4-99, Saad Umar 3-47, Mohammad Ijaz 2-48).
At Students Sports Ground: Liaquatabad-Gulshan Zone beat Nazimabad-Asifabad Zone by 210 runs. LIAQUATABAD-GULSHAN ZONE 294 in 75.4 overs (Rashid Ali 128, Tahir Khan 59 not out, Abdul Qadir 41; Aftab Ahmed 4-102, Mansoor Ahmed 2-77); NAZIMABAD-ASIFABAD ZONE 84 in 37 overs (Tariq Rasheed 44; Mansoor Khan 4-12, Nasir Khan 3-25, Tariq Haroon 2-8).