KARACHI: Sparkling centuries from Hafiz Asad and Saad Alam inspired Vital Five CC to a 61-run victory over Mansoora Sports in the KCCA Commissioner Karachi Cup match here on Wednesday.

Batting first after winning the toss at the TMC Ground, Vital Five CC amassed 303-2 in the allotted 50 overs. Opener Hafiz Asad and Saad added 115 for the second wicket with each batsman entering triple figures.

Hafiz Asad scored run-a-ball 116 with the aid of 13 fours and one six, while Saad compiled an unbeaten 100 from 112 deliveries with six hits to the fence.

Mansoora Sports made a gallant attempt to reach the 304-run target but were all out for 242 midway through the 48th over.

Arif Zaidi (70, seven boundaries) and Faraz Danish (48, five fours) were the chief run-getters. Slow Left-armer Akbar Babar took three wickets for 33 runs with off-spinner Hasan Mahmood grabbing 3-44. In a thrilling finish at the KCCA Stadium, Sir Syed CC edged Azad CC by just four runs.

Defending a modest 196 — with Shakir Wali (53, 11 fours) and Waqas Mahboob (52, three fours and one six) the main scorers — Sir Syed CC dismissed Azad CC for 192 in the 47th over.

Waqar Kundi, who had earlier picked up four wickets for 43 runs, was the top scorer with 53 (five boundaries), while left-arm spinner Imran Ali claimed three wickets for 34 runs.

Shiraz Ali (76, four fours) and Abbas Khan 56 (four fours and one six) helped O.K. Sports collect 246-7 against Youngster Gymkhana, who were all out for 201 in reply at the Pak Star Ground. Off-spinner Mohammad Zohaib bowled well to capture four wickets for 36 runs.

Summarised scores:

O.K. Sports beat Youngster Gymkhana by 46 runs at Pak Star Ground.

O.K. SPORTS 246-7 in 50 overs (Shiraz Ali 76, Abbas Khan 56; Amanullah 2-32, Abdur Rehman 2-34); YOUNGSTER GYMKHANA 201 in 44.3 overs (Moiz Ahmed 44, Sumair Younis 35, Mohammad Faisal 30; Mohammad Zohaib 4-36, Ali Raza 2-28). Vital Five CC beat Mansoora Sports by 46 runs at TMC Ground.

VITAL FIVE CC 303-2 in 50 overs (Hafiz Asad 110, Saad Alam 100 not out); MANSOORA SPORTS 242 in 47.3 overs (Arif Zaidi 70, Faraz Danish 48, Shoaib Khaliq 28; Akbar Babar 3-33, Hasan Mahmood 3-44, Sohail Khan 2-21).

Sir Syed CC beat Azad CC by four runs at KCCA Stadium.

SIR SYED CC 196 in 42.2 overs (Shakir Wali 53, Waqas Mahboob 52, Asim Shah 17; Waqar Kundi 4-43, Abdur Rauf 3-41, Zameer Khan 2-27); AZAD CC 192 in 46.5 overs (Waqar Kundi 53, Zameer Khan 23, Mohammad Umair 23; Imran Ali 3-34, Shakir Wali 2-25).

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2015

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