KARACHI, Dec 22: Pakistan CC made it seventh time lucky with a clinical performance to rout Alamgir Gymkhana by 88 runs in the final to lift the NBP-KCCA Premier Cricket League title at the NBP Sports Complex here on Friday.
Batting first, Pakistan CC reached an impressive total of 266-8 in their stipulated 40 overs. Discarded Pakistan Twenty20 batsman Rameez Raja, the Man-of-the-Match, was the major run-getter with a fine innings of 65 that was spiced with nine boundaries. Naeem Ahmed Khan struck three fours in making 48, while Sarfraz Ahmed, the out-of-favour Pakistan wicket-keeper/batsman, hit four fours in his entertaining knock of 45.
Medium-pacer Mohammad Imran captured three wickets for 46 runs and Alamgir Gymkhana skipper Najeebullah bagged two for 55.
Alamgir Gymkhana batsmen, barring the consistent Ahsan Ali, were unable to bat for longer periods to give their side chance of ending Pakistan CC’s remarkable domination of in the seventh edition of this tournament.
Opener Ahsan, who was later the best batsman of the competition, slammed six boundaries in scoring 46.
Left-arm speedster Rumman Raees Khan was the most successful bowler or the champions with figures of three for 39, while the spin trio of Misbah Khan, skipper Adnan Kaleem and Shahzaib Ahmed Khan chipped in with two wickets apiece.
After the conclusion of the match, chief guest Imam Buksh Baloch, the executive vice-president of National Bank of Pakistan, distributed the prizes in a simple ceremony. Pakistan CC captain Adnan Kaleem collected the winners’ trophy and prize of Rs75,000; runners-up trophy and Rs50,000 was received by Alamgir Gymkhana skipper Najeebullah; the losing semi-finalists Dawood Sports captain Saeed bin Nasir and Landhi Friends skipper Shahzad Alam both picked up Rs25,000 each.
The best batsman cash award went to Faraz Ahmed Khan.
On this occasion prizes of the NBP-KCCA zonal inter-club tournament were also given away. The respective zonal champions were Al-Noor Gymkhana (Zone-I), Dawood Sports (Zone-II), Mohammad Hussain CC (Zone-III, Malir Gymkhana (Zone-IV), Landhi Friends (Zone-V), Pakistan CC (Zone-VI) and Nazimabad Gymkhana (Zone-VII).
The runners-up were Vital Five CC (Zone-I), United Sports (Zone-II), Tapal CC (Zone-III), Faisal Gymkhana (Zone-IV), Pak Korangi CC (Zone-V), Alamgir Gymkhana (Zone-VI) and Asifabad Sports (Zone-VII).
Among other dignitaries present at the prize-distribution function were Qamar Hussain (executive vice-president of National Bank of Pakistan) KCCA president Prof Sirajul Islam Bukhari, honorary secretary Prof Ejaz Ahmed Faruqi, vice-president and chairman of KCCA tournament committee Mahtab Ahmed, KCCA vice-president M. Irfan Shaikh, KCCA treasurer Wasimuddin and KCCA tournament committee secretary Touseef Siddiqui.
Summarised scores:
PAKISTAN CC 266-8 in 40 overs (Rameez Raja 65, Naeem Ahmed Khan 48, Sarfraz Ahmed 45, Fakhar Zaman 31, Javed Mansoor 20; Mohammad Imran 3-46, Najeebullah 2-55); ALAMGIR GYMKHANA 178 in 37.3 overs (Ahsan Ali 46, Najeebullah 23, Mohammad Waqas 20; Rumman Raees Khan 3-39, Misbah Khan 2-28, Adnan Kaleem 2-28, Shahzaib Ahmed Khan 2-38).
