March 27, 2006	Monday	Safar 26, 1427

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LAHORE, March 26: A splendid all-round performance by Jaffar Qureshi helped Karachi Blues win the eighth Inter-city Seniors cricket cup with a five-wicket defeat of Lahore Whites in the 12-a-side rain-hit final at the Qadhafi Stadium on Sunday.

Opener Jaffar scored 52-ball 88 as Karachi Blues overhauled the target of 208 for the loss of six wickets with only two balls to spare in the rescheduled quota of 22 overs, as the final was delayed because of heavy downpour on Saturday night which made the ground wet.

Jaffar with Test batsman Mansoor Akhtar laid a strong foundation, collecting 118 in the first-wicket partnership. Jaffar cracked seven sixes and two fours and Mansoor scored a 37-ball 66 with the aid of three sixes and six boundaries.

Leg-spinner Iqbal Zahoor took three for 33.

Earlier, batting first, Lahore Blues were restricted to 207-6 due to Jaffar, who with his slow-left-armers captured half of the wickets for 32 runs. He was adjudged Man-of-the-Final.

Lahore Blues made a fine start as openers Naveed Anjum and Pervez Shah scored 55 and 59 runs to score 106 in the first-wicket partnership.

Naveed faced only 25 balls to hit five sixes and three fours. Pervez in his 48-ball knock hit seven boundaries.

Summarised scores:

LAHORE WHITES 207-6 (Naveed Anjum 55, Pervez Shah 59, Ali Zia 35, Manzoor Elahi 26; Jaffar Qureshi 3-32, Munirul Haq 2-30); KARACHI BLUES 208-6, 21.4 overs (Jaffar Qureshi 88, Mansoor Akhtar 66; Iqbal Zahoor 3-33).