KARACHI, Nov 23: Holders Tapal CC (TCC) once again made it through to the final of the 18th Karachi Gymkhana Habib Bank A.G. Zurich Ramazan cricket festival after edging out Sindh Police by 24 runs in the second semi-final played on Sunday at the Karachi Gymkhana ground.

Winning the toss and batting first Tapal were off to a fine start when Hasan Arshad (33) and Hanif ur Rehman (28) put on 52 runs for the first wicket.

With Atiq uz Zaman (66), slamming 10 scorching boundaries and three huge sixes, Saeed Bin Nasir (55) with seven sizzling boundaries and two sixes and Jaffer Qureshi 26 (n.o.) carrying on the good work with the willow, Tapal CC scored 241 for the loss of four wickets in their 25 allotted overs.

Sindh Police needing 242 runs for victory, fell short of victory by 25 runs when their 25 allotted overs expired reaching, 217 runs for the loss of eight wickets.

Left-handed Arif Mehmood stole the batting limelight with a devastating knock of 115 runs, which came off only 70 deliveries laced with six sixes and seven boundaries.

But his valiant effort went all in vain as he ended up on the losing side. Khalid Latif chipped in with 48 runs.

Right-arm medium pacer Shahid Iqbal was the pick of the Tapal attack, claiming four wickets for 39 runs.

Arif was later named the Man of the Match.

Monday’s fixture: (Final) Tapal CC v/s Pak Gymkhana at 1.00 p.m.