KARACHI, May 2: A brave knock from Zeeshan Mushtaq helped Pakistan Television (PTV) defeat Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) by five wickets to clinch the Patron’s Trophy Grade-II cricket title in Mirpur on Thursday.
Zeeshan, who was forced to retired hurt at 280-4 when he was struck a painful blow on his shoulder by fast bowler Tabish Khan, scored a brisk 81 after PTV resumed on the fourth and final day at 130-2 while chasing 288.
It is not clear whether PTV would be granted first-class status for the next season. A decision to this effect will be taken by the competent authority shortly, according to a spokesman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
It was second successive heartbreak for the KESC as they also finished runners-up last season when Port Qasim Authority won the title on first innings lead after the final at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad ended in a draw.
The only way KESC could have won the final this time was to take the remaining eight wickets before PTV got the required runs but Zeeshan’s composed innings, during which he hit 15 boundaries and one six and negotiated 93 balls, quashed those hopes.
The overnight pair of Nawaz Ahmed and Rizwan Ahmed extended their third-wicket partnership to 64 before the former was caught by Tabish off his own bowling for a 149-ball 63 that included nine fours.
Rizwan, who began the day on 18, and Zeeshan put on 71 to keep PTV on track before Arun Lal had Rizwan caught by substitute Fawad Khan for 54 (84 balls, eight boundaries). Akbar Badshah, who remained unbeaten with 16, then helped Zeeshan add 56 invaluable runs to take their closer to victory which was deservingly achieved at 1:29pm.
The only consolation for KESC was that their players won four of the five individual cash awards, each worth Rs20,000, on offer out of the total prize-money of Rs400,000.
Bismillah Khan was declared the Man-of-the-Match for his knocks of 82 and 85 in the final. Akbar-ur-Rehman was declared the best batsman for his 720 runs in the competition; Mohammad Waqas the best fielder for holding a dozen catches, while KESC captain Javed Mansoor won the best wicket-keeper prize for his 30 dismissals (29 catches and one stumping) in the event.
The only award to elude the runners-up was the best bowler prize which went to Omar Associates’ paceman Rizwan Akbar for his 43 wickets.
But PTV clinched the coveted winners’ trophy plus Rs200,000 which were gratefully accepted by their skipper Imad Wasim from the deputy commissioner of Mirpur, Chaudhry Guftar Hussain. Javed Mansoor had to settle for the runners-up trophy and Rs100,000.
