KARACHI: Opener Mohammad Yasin played a blazing innings to inspire Advance Telecom into the final of the 2nd Peace Cup T20 Night Cricket Tournament with a 13-run win over Eaton CC at the Naya Nazimabad Lawai Stadium here on Saturday night.

The left-handed Yasin bludgeoned four sixes and eight boundaries in scoring 82 from 53 deliveries as Advance Telecom collected a healthy total of 171-8 after being asked to bat first in the second semi-final by Eaton CC skipper Fahad Anjum.

Faizan Riaz also made an invaluable contribution of 33 in just 17 deliveries while smashing a brace of sixes and as many boundaries. Opener Mukhtar Ahmed scored a 17-ball 19.

Slow left-armer Saadat Munir bowled superbly to grab three wickets for 24 runs. Fahad Anjum and Asif Ali both chipped in with a couple of wickets.

Eaton CC were kept in the contest by a splendid innings from Usman Javed who belted 59 from 44 balls with the help of four sixes and five fours but one he departed while trying to hit against the spin, they lost momentum despite Hasan Sardar (not to be confused with Pakistan hockey legend) making 22 from 21 balls and Jahandad Khan 19 off 14..

Eaton CC eventually reached 158-5.

Advance Telecom skipper Rehan Sheikh and slow left-armer Samiullah were tidy while picking up a wicket each for 22 and 23 runs, respectively.

Chief Guest on the night was Zubair Umar, Federal Minister for Privatization who awarded the man-of-the-match prize to Yasin for his mach-winning knock.

The post-game ceremony was also graced by Arif Habib, chairman of Arif Habib Group, Samad A. Habib, Mohammad Iqbal, Director Sports Naya Nazimabad, tournament director Riazuddin and honorary secretary of Aga Khan Gymkhana Abdul Khalique Pasnani.

The final between Advance Telecom and holders Omar CC was being played on Sunday night.

Summarised scores:

ADVANCE TELECOM 171-8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Yasin 82, Faizan Riaz 33; Saadat Munir 3-24, Asif Ali 3-38, Fahad Anjum 2-36); EATON CC 158-5 in 20 overs (Usman Javed 59, Hasan Sardar 22).

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2014