KARACHI, April 28 Inspired by career-best efforts from Rameez Alam and Rizwan Haider, Balochistan Bears sneaked into the RBS Pentangular Cup One-day Tournament final after narrow four-run defeat of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Panthers at the National Stadium here on Tuesday night.
In a low-scoring thriller, the Panthers' miserable run in the tournament came to an end as they succumbed to their fourth successive loss after being set a modest 188-run target, as they eventually folded up for 183 in 49 overs.
The Bears' bowling hero in their third win was the left-handed all-rounder Rizwan Haider who finished with career-best figures of five for 31 in 10 overs of pace bowling after the Panthers revived their victory hopes through a defiant partnership of 52 between Zohaib Khan and Khalid Usman, having slumped to 111-7.
Pakistan reject Yasir Hameed provided the Panthers a rousing start but after having slammed 31 off 35 balls with five boundaries, the skipper went. Rameez put on the Bears on top by taking a splendid diving catch in the slips off the giant left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan to get of Riffatullah Mohmand for a duck.
Pakistan Test paceman Abdur Rauf, who handed the reins of captaincy for this match to Rameez Alam, rediscovered his form with the vital scalps of Khalid (25) and Zohaib (41 off 64 balls, four boundaries) to enable the Bears book their place in Thursday's final against Sindh Dolphins.
Earlier, the 21-year-old Rameez fought a one-man battle to guide the Bears to a fighting total of 187 in 47.4 overs after winning the toss. The Sahiwal-born right-hander was last out after registering his highest score in List A fixtures by striking 10 fours in making 86 off 108 deliveries.Rizwan also played a supporting role in the company of Rameez they joined forces to put on a partnership of 57 for the seventh wicket. Rizwan contributed 24 off 42 balls with the aid of two hits to the fence.
Medium-pacer Imran Khan from Lower Dir returned personal best analysis of 3-25 in 6.4 overs, including the prized scalp of Rameez. Slow left-armer Khalid Usman took three for 38 and leg-spinner Yasir Shah two for 42 with both spinners bowling their full quota o overs.
Meanwhile, the preliminary round was slated to end on Wednesday night with the unbeaten Dolphins chasing fourth win in as many as matches with their opponents being Punjab Stallions.
Summarised scores
Balochistan Bears beat Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Panthers by four runs.
BALOCHISTAN BEARS 187 in 47.4 overs (Rameez Alam 86, Rizwan Haider 24; Imran Khan 3-25, Khalid Usman 3-38, Yasir Shah 2-42); KHYBER-PAKHTUNKHWA PANTHERS 182 in 49 overs (Zohaib Khan 41, Yasir Hameed 31, Khalid Usman 25; Rizwan Haider 5-31, Abdur Rauf 2-46).
