August 05, 2007	Sunday	Rajab 20, 1428

KARACHI, Aug 4: Thanks to some brilliant batting by Sajid Ali and Mohammad Nadeem, Diamond Cricket Club pulled off a remarkable 42-run victory over Pakistan Cricket Club to reach the final of the PCB Inter-club Cricket Championship on Saturday.

Diamond CC will take on Combined Cricket Club, Faisalabad in the three-day final starting at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from Monday. Combined CC beat Malik Sports, Peshawar, also on Saturday, in the other semi-final.

Sajid, who remained unbeaten with 75, and Nadeem (50) came together to put on 110 for the eighth wicket after Diamond, who were asked to bat first by Pakistan CC skipper Adnan Kaleem, were left tottering at 102 for seven in the 30th over in the semi-final played at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Sajid’s 88-ball innings contained three sixes and a solitary boundary as did Nadeem’s 59-ball knock. Opener Usman Mahmood survived a fiery new-ball spell from Iftikhar Ali to score a 68-ball 37 that was laced with two hits to the fence.

Pakistan eventually reached 230 for eight in their 50 overs with Mr Extras also helping their cause with 40 runs, the bulk of them coming through 25 wides and 13 no-balls.

Iftikhar claimed four for 36 in 10 overs but was wayward in direction as he overstepped the popping crease five times and also bowled 12 wides. Fellow paceman Fazal Subhan (1-36 in five overs) was guilty of bowling no less than eight no-balls and nine wides.

Irfanuddin, the ex-Pakistan Under-19 off-spinner, took two for 35 in eight overs.

Pakistan CC, in reply, were soon in trouble as they lost the first six wickets for 74 runs. It was then left to Shaharyar Ghani to add some respectability to the total. The visitors were bowled for 188 in the 47th over.

Shaharyar, who had come to the crease at 20 for three in the 10th over, struck four sixes and as many fours in making a fine 83 off 89 deliveries until he was bowled by Nadeem, who captured for 16 in 8.1 overs.

Opening bowlers Sajid Durrani and Yasin Bari also claimed two wickets apiece as did off-spinner Kamran Hussain.

Summarised scores:

DIAMOND CRICKET CLUB 230-8 in 50 overs (Sajid Ali 75 not out, Mohammad Nadeem 50, Usman Mahmood 37; Iftikhar Ali 4-36, Irfanuddin 2-35); PAKISTAN CRICKET CLUB 188 in 46.1 overs (Shaharyar Ghani 83; Mohammad Nadeem 2-16, Yasin Bari 2-23, Sajid Durrani 2-37, Kamran Hussain 2-47).