KARACHI: The star-studded Omar Cricket Club retained their title when they edged K-Electric in the 29th Karachi Gymkhana Omar Associates Ramazan Cricket Festival here on Sunday.

In the final — which was beamed live by Pakistan Television (PTV) which also televised the all the knockout matches — at the Karachi Gymkhana Ground, Omar CC defended their total of 145-6 by restricting K-Electric (which used to be previously known as Karachi Electric Supply Company) to 136-9 to seal a nine-run triumph.

Batting first after skipper Adnan Kaleem had won the toss, Omar CC made a brisk start through Rameez Raja (12 off 16 balls) and Mohammad Waqas (19 off 19, three boundaries).

Khurram Manzoor, Sarfraz Ahmed, Fawad Alam and Anwar Ali — the quartet of Pakistan players who were all involved in a fund-raising game in Lahore on Friday — contributed their bits after the openers were out.

Khurram hit one four in making 20 from 21 balls; Sarfraz remained unbeaten with a run-a-ball 33 (one four), Fawad was out for a six-ball five while Anwar was run out for a breezy 25 off 15 deliveries (two sixes and one four).

Saad Nasim (23 off 10 balls, two sixes and one six) then helped Sarfraz add 34 for the unbroken seventh-wicket partnership after Asif Raza was bowled by K-Electric captain and off-spinner Misbah Khan for a first-ball duck.

Misbah, Tariq Haroon, Osama Basharat and Saud Shakeel each claimed one wicket.

K-Electric were provided a good foundation in their chase when the left-handed opener Faraz Ali (25 off 24 balls, three fours and one six) and Shahid Khan (31 off 26 balls, two fours and one six) put on 48 for the second wicket.

But Omar CC hit back when Asif Raza grabbed three wickets with his medium-pacers. Among his victims were Shahid and veteran Tariq Haroon who was nicely caught by Anwar Ali just inside the fence. Tariq struck run-a-ball 20 with a brace of two boundaries.

Thereafter Omar CC were in control of the situation. Pakistan spinner Zulfiqar Babar and fellow left-armer Adnan Kaleem took two wickets apiece for 25 and 31 runs, respectively.

Asif Raza’s figures of three for 22 were enough for the jury to adjudge him man-of-the-match. Anwar and Faraz Ahmed Khan took one wicket each.

Cricket promoter and managing director of Omar Associates Nadeem Omar who was the chief guest distributed prizes at a well-attended presentation ceremony which was also graced by Karachi Gymkhana president Ali A. Rahim, Abbas Valika, Masroor Mirza and PTV’s Jameela Rehman.

Omar CC skipper Adnan Kaleem received the winners’ trophy and cash prize of Rs500,000; K-Electric captain Misbah Khan collected Rs250,000 and the runners-up trophy.

Among the individual prizes, Rameez Aziz was declared man-of-the-tournament, Omar CC’s Rameez Raja best batsman, Shahzaib Ahmed Khan of K-Electric best bowler, Ashraf Ali of Dubai Islamic Bank best fielder and Khurram Ali of Soni Associates best wicket-keeper.

Summarised scores:

OMAR CC 145-6 in 20 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 33, Anwar Ali 25, Saad Nasim 23 not out, Khurram Manzoor 20, Mohammad Waqas 19); K-ELECTRIC 136-9 in 20 overs (Shahid Khan 31, Faraz Ali 25, Tariq Haroon 20; Asif Raza 3-22, Zulfiqar Babar 2-25, Adnan Kaleem 2-31).

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2014