Amir-inspired SSGC seal second win to stay on track

Published October 3, 2015
In this photo, Mohammad Amir bowls during a three day match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on March 13, 2015. — AFP/File
In this photo, Mohammad Amir bowls during a three day match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on March 13, 2015. — AFP/File

KARACHI: Inspired by a brilliant spell of pace bowling from Mohammad Amir, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on Friday sealed their second straight win in the Inter-department Qualifying Cricket Tournament for the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.

With just one departmental outfit to compete in the country’s premier first-class competition this season, SSGC’s four-wicket success against State Bank at the Multan Cricket Stadium on the last day of the four-day match was crucial.

It was made possible by Amir, the left-armer who is now free to play international cricket following the completion of a five-year ban for his role in the infamous spot-fixing saga during the 2010 Lord’s Test against England.

Currently undergoing a process of rehabilitation under cricket board’s supervision, the Pakistan paceman grabbed four of the remaining six wickets that State Bank lost in their second innings to finish with seven for 61, giving the 23-year-old from Gujjar Khan a match bag of 10 wickets for 131 runs.

Chasing a modest 143, SSGC – who defeated Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) by 113 runs in the opening round – lost six wickets before reaching their target.

PIA, first-round losers by State Bank, gained just three points after drawing with Karachi Port Trust (KPT) at the LCCA Ground in Lahore.

KPT, who began the last day at 185-0, eventually declared their first innings at 318-6 after both openers, Nadeem Javed and Anas Mahmood, duly reached three figures.

Nadeem, overnight 96, was dismissed for 106 with his 209-ball knock featuring 12 boundaries, while Anas – nephew of current national chief selector and ex-Pakistan batsman Haroon Rashid and son of former first-class player Mahmood – added 22 runs to his Thursday’s score of 83. His 105 off 240 balls included nine hits to the fence.

Mirza Asad Baig struck an unbeaten 66.

In the qualifying competition for the regions, Lahore Blues recorded their second consecutive win when Bahawalpur lost to them by 142 runs in the Pool ‘B’ match at the NBP Sports Complex.

Pakistan limited-overs all-rounder Saad Nasim snared six wickets for 62 runs as Bahawalpur were all out for 191 after beginning the day 122-4 in pursuit of an unlikely chase for 334.

Abbottabad opted for batting practice as their Pool ‘A’ encounter against Karachi Blues petered out in a listless draw at the National Stadium.

The highlight of the day was the belligerent batting of Nasir Khan who banged 21 boundaries and hoisted four sixes in a cavalier innings of 162 from just 174 deliveries as Abbottabad collected 230 in their second innings.

Seamer Zohaib Shera captured four wickets for 71 runs, while unorthodox left-arm spinner Mirza Ahsan Jamil followed up his 6-100 in the first innings with two for 71.

In the remaining time left, Karachi Blues collected 48-1 in the second innings.

The third round of matches in both events starts from Monday.

Scores and results on Friday (final day of four):

Inter-department qualifying tournament:

Second round:

At Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan: SSGC beat State Bank by four wickets.

STATE BANK 255 in 102.4 overs (Usman Salahuddin 77, Faisal Mubashir 68, Sami Aslam 47; Tariq Haroon 4-31, Mohammad Amir 3-70, Akhtar Ayub 2-13) and 254 in 76 overs (Israrullah 140 not out, Abid Ali 47; Mohammad Amir 7-61); SSGC 367 in 116.4 overs (Mohammad Irfan 132, Awais Zia 61, Usman Tariq 46, Tariq Haroon 20, Akhtar Ayub 20 not out; Mohammad Bilawal 4-89, Mohammad Naveed 3-46, Kashif Bhatti 3-111) and 144-6 in 34.2 overs (Muzammil Nizam 28 not out, Usman Tariq 26; Kashif Bhatti 2-39).

At LCCA Ground, Lahore: Match drawn.

KPT 287 in 110.2 overs (Faisal Khan 57, Nadeem Javed 48, Ahmed Iqbal 48, Anas Mahmood 42, Shah Ali Zafar 24; Hazrat Shah 5-88, Tahir Khan 2-79) and 318-6 in 101 overs (Nadeem Javed 106, Anas Mahmood 105, Mirza Asad Baig 66 not out); PIA 299 in 90.1 overs (Shaharyar Ghani 75, Fahad Iqbal 58, Shahzar Mohammad 50, Salman Saeed 34, Tahir Khan 27; Adeel Malik 3-75, Nabeel Malik 3-79, Shah Ali Zafar 2-5, Mirza Asad Baig 2-18) and 125-1 in 36 overs (Shahzar Mohammad 53 not out, Shoaib Khan 39, Shaharyar Ghani 26 not out).

Inter-region qualifying tournament:

Second round:

Pool ‘A’:

At National Stadium, Karachi: Match drawn.

ABBOTTABAD 403 in 138.2 overs (Khalilullah 138, Nasir Khan 113, Adnan Younis 105; Mirza Ahsan Jamil 6-100, Zohaib Shera 2-73) and 230 in 60.4 overs (Nasir Khan 162, Shakeel Ahmed 23; Zohaib Shera 4-71, Waqar Anwar 2-47, Mirza Ahsan Jamil 2-71); KARACHI BLUES 391 in 122.2 overs (Rameez Raja 148, Babar Hussain Agha 140, Faraz Ahmed Khan 37, Mohammad Waqas 24; Fazle Rabi 5-63, Safiullah 3-79, Sohail Akhtar 2-37) and 48-1 in 12 overs (Mohammad Waqas 21 not out, Basharat Khan 18 not out).

Pool ‘B’:

At NBP Sports Complex, Karachi: Lahore Blues beat Bahawalpur by 142 runs.

LAHORE BLUES 258 in 77.2 overs (Raza Ali Dar 105, Mohammad Ikhlaq 46, Farhan 39, Saad Nasim 26; Imranullah Aslam 5-76, Mohammad Imran 3-39, Kamran Hussain 2-37) and 241 in 76.3 overs (Bilawal Iqbal 60, Farhan 46, Saad Nasim 41, Waqas Saleem 24, Agha Salman 23; Imranullah Aslam 6-59, Muzammil Tahseen 2-53); BAHAWALPUR 166 in 63.3 overs (Kamran Hussain 43, Mohammad Imran 38, Bilawal Iqbal 3-32, Agha Salman 3-64, Haider Ali 2-18) and 191 in 92.1 overs (Adeel Basit 55, Bilal Khilji 44, Mohammad Waqas 30; Saad Nasim 6-62, Bilawal Iqbal 2-20, Agha Salman 2-68).

Published in Dawn October 3rd, 2015

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