LAHORE, March 17: Test opener Imran Farhat and Riffatullah Mohmand slammed half-centuries to help defending champions Habib Bank carve out a narrow two-wicket win against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in a high-scoring match of the ABN-Amro One-day Patron’s Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

Imran was in aggressive mood, scoring a 61-ball 66 with three sixes and eight fours, while Riffatullah made a 94-ball 59 as the bankers reached their target of 268 for the loss of eight wickets with just three balls to spare.

Imran had major contribution in the opening partnership of 56 with Test discard Taufiq Umar, who scored only 12. Riffatullah and skipper Hasan Raza (47 off 71 balls, three fours) added 76 for the third wicket before the former was bowled by Adnan Raza. He hit four boundaries.

After a mini collapse, the bankers were guided toward victory by Shahid Nazir and Sajid Shah.

Left-arm paceman Mohammad Khalil (3-40) and off-spinner Naveed Qureshi (3-40) shared the bowling honours.

Earlier, Aamir Bashir (81 off 1-6 balls, seven fours), Adnan Raza (55 off 38 balls, four fours and two sixes) and skipper Naveed Qureshi (49 off 31 balls, six fours and one sixs) helped ZTBL piled up 267-8

Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman snared three for 54.

Scoreboard

ZTBL:

Afaq Raheem b Shahid 6

Atif Ashraf c Farhan b Sajid 0

Umar Javed c Riffat b Imran 36

Aamir Bashir c Taufiq b Rehman 81

Naveed Qureshi c Imran b Shahid 49

Adnan Raza not out 55

Adnan Akmal st. Farhan b Rehman 22

Imran Sabir c Kamran b Aftab 3

Mohammad Khalil c Riffat b Rehman 4

Kashif Dawood not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-6, NB-4) 11

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 267

FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-9, 3-94, 4-170, 5-188, 6-241, 7-252, 8-256.

BOWLING: Shahid Nazir 10-2-25-2 (1w); Sajid Shah 10-0-56-1 (3nb, 3w); Abdur Rehman 10-0-54-3 (w1); Kamran Hussain 8-0-47-0; Imran Farhat 8-0-56-1 (1nb, 1w); Aftab Khan 4-0-28-1.

HABIB BANK:

Imran Farhat c Adnan Akmal b Kashif 66

Taufiq Umar c Adnan Akmal b Khalil 12

Riffatullah Mohmand b Adnan Raza 59

Hasan Raza c sub b Naveed 47

Aftab Khan st Adnan Akmal b Naveed 20

Abdur Rehman c Afaq b Khalil 14

Kamran Hussain c Naveed b Khalil 14

Shahid Nazir not out 5

Sajid Shah not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-15, NB-3) 20

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 49.3 overs) 268

FALL OF WKTS; 1-56, 2-103, 3-179, 4-190, 5-217, 6-224, 7-212, 8-252.

BOWLING: Mohammad Khalil 7-1-40-3 (1nb, 1w); Imran Sabir 7.3-0-53-0 (7w); Kashif Dawood 7-0-40-1 (1nb); Naeem Anjum 10-0-46-0 (1w); Afaq Raheem 5-0-24-0 (2w); Naveed Qureshi 9-0-46-3 (4w); Adnan Raza 4-0-2-1 (1nb).

RESULT: Habib Bank won by two wickets.

UMPIRES: Rasheed Bhatti and Islam Khan.

MATCH REFEREE: Saadat Ali.