KARACHI: Karachi Gymkhana Veterans beat Omar Gladiators Veterans by 31 runs in a festival cricket match played at the Gymkhana cricket ground on Saturday.

Karachi Gymkhana Veterans, after winning the toss, elected to bat and scored an impressive 211 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allocated 25 overs. S.M. Sameer was top scorer with 60 off only 36 balls with one six and six fours. Saleem Parekh made a breezy unbeaten 39 off 35 balls with three fours. Azhar Khan scored 27 and Agha Arsalan 22 not out.

For Omar Gladiators Veterans, Amir Hameed took two wickets for 14 runs and Fawad Ijaz Khan took two wickets for 55. Skipper Nadeem Omar and Rashid Ali took one wicket each for 44 and 14 runs respectively.

In reply, Omar Gladiators could only score 180 in 24.3 overs. Nadeem and Fawad Ijaz Khan opened the innings and put on 38 for the opening stand.

Afterwards, Fayyaz Ahmed scored 46 off just 21 balls while former ODI player Sajid Ali scored 32 off 27 balls.

For Karachi Gymkhana Akhtar Muneer, Kamran Hussain and Altaf Agha took 2 wickets each. conceding 41, 38 and 24 runs respectively.

At the conclusion of the match a prize distribution ceremony was held.

Sameer was declared man of the match while Fayyaz Ahmed was the best batsman and Altaf Agha named best bowler.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2016