KARACHI: Mohammad Amir, the Pakistan fast bowler who has returned to competitive cricket following a reprieve of his five-year ICC ban, bowled Omar Associates into the final of the Patron’s Trophy (Grade-II) Cricket Tournament with a six-wicket haul in the drawn rain-disrupted semi-final against Khayaban-e-Amin on Wednesday.

Chasing 277 in 55 overs to overhaul Omar Associates’ first-innings total at the LCCA Ground in Lahore, Khayaban-e-Amin were bowled out for 137 at the start of the 32nd over, losing their last six wickets for just 40 runs.

Left-armer Amir, who will celebrate his 23rd birthday on April 13, was the wrecker-in-chief with brilliant analysis of six for 47 in 14 overs, while off-spinner Bilal Asif grabbed three wickets for 22 runs in 5.1 overs.

Omar Associates’ opponents in the final will be decided later after the other semi-final, between K-Electric and Karachi Port Trust (KPT), was abandoned without a ball being delivered at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot following torrential rains in the industrial city.

According to the domestic playing conditions, that semi-final will be played on revised dates.

Khayaban-e-Amin made a gallant attempt to chase down the runs at the star with opener Hasnain Bukhari (48 off 41 balls, 10 boundaries) and skipper Yasir Ajmal (37 off 54, three fours and one six) engaging themselves in a second-wicket partnership of 55 after Amir had cleaned up Waqar Hussain for four in his second over.

But once Hasnain and Yasir were separated it was one-way traffic as Amir and Bilal ran through the rest of Khayaban-e-Amin batting line-up. Of the remaining batsmen, only wicket-keeper Salman Afridi (11) was successful in reaching double figures.

Earlier, Omar Associates reached 276-6 after resuming at their Tuesday’s tally of 145-4. Initially they were to face 63 overs as decided on day two after heavy rain had wiped out Monday’s entire opening day of the three-day fixture.

But after Omar Associates had batted for another 23 overs on Wednesday, a brief stoppage in play by rain, forced match officials to end their innings then and there, while leaving the opposition to begin their chase for the runs in the remaining time during which 55 overs were scheduled to be bowled.

Overnight pair of Mohammad Waqas and Fahad-ul-Haq had added only four runs when the former was caught behind off paceman Babar Khan for 76 (95 balls, eight fours and two sixes). The fifth-wicket stand yielded 61 runs.

Omar Associates skipper Saad Nasim didn’t last either when the Pakistan Twenty20 all-rounder was gone for one, caught by Hasnain off paceman Majid Ali.

But Fahad and Asif Raza then put their team in driving seat as they together forged an unbroken partnership of 126 for the seventh wicket. Fahad scored 89 from 94 deliveries with the help of 13 fours and one six, while Asif hammered three sixes and as many fours in making 53 off 66 balls.

Majid finished with three for 71 in 20 overs with Babar taking three for 86 in 19 overs.

The winners of the Patron’s Trophy title will attain first-class and compete next season in the Silver League tier of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship.

Scores and results on Wednesday (final day of three):

Semi-finals:

At Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot: K-Electric vs Karachi Port Trust — match abandoned without a ball being bowled.

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: Match drawn.

OMAR ASSOCIATES 276-6 in 55 overs (Fahad-ul-Haq 89 not out, Mohammad Waqas 76, Asif Raza 53 not out; Majid Ali 3-71, Babar Khan 3-86); KHAYABAN-E-AMIN 137 in 31.1 overs (Hasnain Bukhari 48, Yasir Ajmal 37; Mohammad Amir 6-47, Bilal Asif 3-22).

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play