KARACHI: Abbottabad Falcons caused one of the biggest upsets in Pakistan domestic cricket when they stunned Habib Bank by four wickets in the opening round of the Haier President’s Silver League One-day Cup in Lahore on Saturday.

After the bankers, who were sent in to bat, had made 256-7 in their 50 overs at the Gaddafi Stadium, the Falcons overhauled that total with two balls to spare against a bowling line-up containing Pakistan stars Umar Gul and Abdur Rehman, to seal a dramatic win against heavy odds.

Needing 93 in the final 10 overs, the Falcons capitalised on some insipid bowling and shoddy fielding put up by Imran Farhat’s team. Nasir Khan, who came to the crease at 170-5, scored 58 of the last 87 runs his side collected as he blasted eight boundaries and one six while facing only 41 deliveries.

Sohail Akhtar also played a key role as he clobbered a 33-ball 45 featuring four fours and a brace of sixes, while Khalilullah slammed four boundaries in making 42 from 41 balls. The pair put on 74 after the Falcons wee 96-4.

Umar Gul and Rehman both returned identical figures of one for 50 in nine overs.

Earlier, former international Hasan Raza struck an undefeated 59 (off 55 balls, six fours), current Pakistan batsman Asad Shafiq 47 (68 balls, seven fours) and ex-Test wicket-keeper Humayun Farhat a quickfire 26-ball 40 (six fours and one six) to emerge as the main run-getters for Habib Bank.

The salient feature of the match was a rare appearance on the domestic playing field by the celebrated ICC Elite panel umpire Aleem Dar who officiated alongside Ahmed Shahab.

Former Pakistan pace bowling all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan registered his maiden List ‘A’ century in his 191st appearance as the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) overcame a shaky start to whip Sialkot Stallions by 138 runs in other Group-II tie at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot.

After paceman Hasan Ali had reduced them to 18-3 with three quick strikes, skipper Naved arrived to partner Adnan Raees in a fourth-wicket stand worth 188 runs that eventually guided Wapda to 264 all out in 49 overs.

Naved hit exactly 100 off 115 balls with the aid of six fours and three sixes, while the left-handed Adnan contributed 81 (96 balls, six fours and one six).

Hasan finished with four wickets or 62 in 10 overs with spinner Bilal Asif picking up 4-64 in 10 overs.

But the Stallions stumbled in their reply as they subsided for 126 in the 40th over. Left-arm seamer Waqas Maqsood took 3-33.

In Group-III action, regional sides claimed upset wins over their departmental rivals.

Multan Tigers sealed a creditable four-wicket success against Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) at the LCCA Ground in Lahore.

Chasing 208, the Tigers roared to victory thanked to fine knocks from Abdul Rehman Muzammil (50 off 51, six boundaries), Shahzad Ali (53 off 94, five fours) and Kashif Naved (43 not out, 39 balls, four fours and one six).

In a match reduced by bad weather to a 20-over affair at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, Faisalabad Wolves defeated Pakistan Television (PTV) by seven wickets with 32 deliveries left unused.

Results:

Group-II:

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore: Abbottabad Falcons bt HBL by four wickets.

HBL 256-7 in 50 overs (Hasan Raza 59 not out,

Asad Shafiq 47, Humayun Farhat 40, Rameez Aziz 39; Aziz-ur-Rehman 2-33, Shakeel Ahmed 2-43, Ikramullah Khan 2-56); ABBOTTABAD FALCONS 257-6 in 49.4 overs (Nasir Khan 58 not out, Sohail Akhtar 45, Khalilullah 42, Sajjad Ali 39; Aftab Khan 2-29).

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: Wapda bt Sialkot Stallions by 138 runs.

WAPDA 264 in 49 overs (Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 100, Adnan Raees 81, Ayaz Tasawwar 39; Hasan Ali 4-64, Bilal Asif 4-64); SIALKOT STALLIONS 126 in 39.4 overs (Israr Ali 31; Waqas Maqsood 3-33, Asif Khan 2-14, Khalid Usman 2-15).

Group-III:

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: Multan Tigers bt SSGC by four wickets.

SSGC 207 in 48.3 overs (Usman Tariq 46, Tariq Haroon 35; Sadaif Mehdi 3-35, Kashif Naved 2-17, Majid Ali 2-36); MULTAN TIGERS 211-6 in 48.3 overs (Shahzad Ali 53, Abdul Rehman Muzammil 50, Kashif Naved 43 not out; Adnan Ghaus 2-35, Tariq Haroon 2-45).

At Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad: Faisalabad Wolves bt PTV by seven wickets.

PTV 84-9 in 20 overs (Usman Ashraf 26 not out; Mohammad Zubair 3-9, Naseer Akram 3-15); FAISALABAD WOLVES 85-3 in 14.4 overs (Hasan Mahmood 37 not out; Samiullah 2-21).

Monday’s fixtures:

Abbottabad Falcons vs Wapda at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; Bahawalpur Stags vs Habivb Bank at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot; Lahore Eagles vs Multan Tigers at LCCA Ground, Lahore; Faisalabad Wolves vs SSGC at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.

Published in Dawn January 25th , 2015

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