KARACHI, Nov 1: Afsar Nawaz played a sterling knock to help Tapal CC qualify for the Aga Khan Gymkhana cricket tournament final with a five-wicket defeat of Cantt Sports CC at the AKG Ground on Tuesday.

Afsar scored a blistering 72 off only 43 balls as Tapal CC overhauled Cantt Sports’ score of 146 in 18.1 overs. The right-hander stroked four sixes and as many fours.

Slow left-armer Jaffar Qureshi, the Cantt Sports skipper, claimed two for 18 in four overs but the remaining bowlers proved ineffective as Afsar went on the rampage. Saeed bin Nasir made 19 while helping Afsar add 68 for the third wicket.

Earlier, Cantt Sports found the going tough after being asked to bat first by Tapal skipper Ahmed Zeeshan Malik.

Mohammad Javed remained unbeaten with 39, an innings that included two sixes and one four, while Shahid Dawood hit 31 with four fours and one six.

Off-spinner Asad Butt and slow left-armer Kamran Umar returned identical figures of two for 20 each.

Tapal CC take on Omar CC in Thursday’s final.

Summarised scores:

CANTT SPORTS CC 146-7 in 20 overs (Mohammad Javed 39 not out, Shahid Dawood 31, Mohammad Masroor 27, Atif Ali Zaidi 25; Asad Butt 2-20, Kamran Umar 2-20); TAPAL CC 148-5 in 18.1 overs (Afsar Nawaz 72; Farhan Iqbal 24 not out; Jaffar Qureshi 2-18).

Final: Omar CC v Tapal CC on Thursday.