KARACHI: Pakistan clinched identical victories over Bangladesh and England to set up a date final with defending champions England in the ICC Academy Physically Disabled T20 Cricket Tournament in Dubai.

Pakistan, won both the last-round league fixtures by same margins of 27 runs, secured six points, while England also bagged six points with Bangladesh crashing out of the competition after four straight losses.

The title-deciding clash will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Opener Hasnain Alam starred on Saturday by scoring the first-ever century in the history of this type of cricket as Pakistan posted 161-5 against Bangladesh.

Hasnain hammered an undefeated 104 from just 67 deliveries as he blasted seven sixes and four boundaries.

Bangladesh’s reply ended at 134-8 with Javed Bhuyan (26 off 20 balls, four fours), Hahrair Shamim (25 off 20) and Hossain (20)being their main run-getters.

Let-arm seamer Zubair Saleem was brilliant with impressive figures of 3-15, while slow left-armer Nihaar Alam captured 2-11.

In the second game, Pakistan reached 164-7 against England. Danish Ahmed hit a sparkling 51 with his 48-ball knock including six boundaries. Rehan Ghani Mirza made 37 from 29 balls with six fours.

Slow left-armer Callum Flynn grabbed three wickets for 35 runs for England, who then were bowled out for 137 in 19.1 overs. Gordon Laidlaw was the top scorer with a 37-ball 48 that included six hits to the fence, while Flynn made 24 off 19 balls with three fours.

Pakistan skipper Jahanzaib Tiwana starred with his off-spinners as he picked up four wickets for 27 runs with left arm paceman Abdullah Ejaz taking 2-11.

Results:

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 27 runs.

PAKISTAN 161-5 in 20 overs (Hasnain Alam 104 not out, Jahanzeb Tiwana 17, Nihaar Alam 17); BANGLADESH 134-8 in 20 overs (Javed Bhuyan 26), Hahrair Shamim 25, Hossain 20; Zubair Saleem 3-15, Nihaar Alam 2-11).

Pakistan beat England by 27 runs.

PAKISTAN 164-7 in 20 overs (Danish Ahmed 51, Rehan Ghani 37, Jahanzeb Tiwana 19; Callum Flynn 3-35); ENGLAND 137 in 19.1 overs (Gordon Laidlaw 48, Callum Flynn 24; Jahanzeb Tiwana 4-27, Abdullah Ijaz 2-11).

Monday’s fixture:

Final: Pakistan vs England (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, 1:00pm).

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2016