KARACHI: Pakistan Panthers Veterans remained undefeated on the tour of England as they overpowered Middlesex County Cricket Club by 33 runs in their last game played at the St Mary Cricket Club Harrow Ground the other day.

Batting first, Pakistan Veterans posted a healthy 276 for nine in the stipulated 40 overs. Then they contained Middlesex CC to 243 for seven in 40 overs to win the match handsomely.

Earlier, Pakistan Veterans beat Dorset Veterans by 34 runs in their opening match at the Dean Park in Bournemouth while their other two games against Surrey CC and Hampshire CC were abandoned without a ball being bowled due to heavy rains.

Sajid Ali was declared as the best batsman for Pakistan Veterans on the tour while Fawad Ijaz Khan was adjudged as the best bowler.

Pakistan Veterans skipper Fawad Ijaz Khan won the toss yet again and opted to bat first. Opener Sajid Ali, having represented Pakistan in One-day Internationals, smashed four sixes and six fours in his 70 off 54 balls and put on a 108-run partnership with Rizwan Nisar to lay the foundation for a mammoth score.Rizwan hammered half a dozen boundaries in his 50 off 41 balls.

The loss of a few quick wickets at one stage had slowed down the rate of scoring but the innings was revived by former Pakistan captain Moin Khan who whacked two sixes and three fours in his 31 off 28 balls.

The onslaught in the death overs by Raja Arshad, who blasted five sixes in his breezy 39 off 17 balls, lifted the total with Naeem Ashraf (36 off 25 balls) and Sajjad Ahmed (22 off 16) also making useful contributions down the order.

Alexander Keith (3-79), K Desai (2-38) and Reingold Mark (2-48) shared the wickets for the home side.

Chasing a formidable target of 277, Middlesex CC lost early wickets and even the centurion Reingold Mark, who unleashed five sixes and 15 fours in his 116 off 74 balls, could not change the course of the match.

The hosts were restricted to 243 for seven with medium-pacer Shahid Mahboob (2-21) and left-arm spinner Fawad Ijaz (2-56) being the most successful bowlers from the visiting side.

A sizable crowd watched the match which was also attended by former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal, West Indian fast bowling great Michael Holding, former Pakistan fast bowler Jalaluddin and celebrated cricket writer Qamar Ahmed.

Later in the evening, a dinner reception was hosted in honour of the veterans team by the local Pakistani community which was largely attended and was covered extensively by media—Agencies

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2015

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