MINGORA: Shamezai Baryali and Elum Batoran qualified for the inaugural Swat Super League final here on Thursday. In the first semi-final, Shamezai Baryali beat Elum Batoran by four wickets.

Shamezai Baryali successfully chased the 170-run target with three balls remaining.

Amir Sohail of the triumphant team was declared the man-of-the-match for his all-round performance (55 runs, one wicket).

Elum Batoran outclassed Ningolai Nangiyali by nine wickets in the other last-four match as the former chased the 146-run target in the 17th over while losing only one wicket.

Fine batting from winning outfit’s Ibrar Ahmed (73 not out) and an impressive all-round display by team-mate Rehmat Ali (33 runs and three wickets) qualified them to be declared joint men-of-the-match.

Meanwhile, Kishwar Ali, the organiser of the league, said Swat possessed immense cricketing talent which needed to be tapped.

“The Swat Super League which started on Aug 14 is aimed at identifying and promoting this talent,” he said.

The participating teams were named after different beautiful valleys and villages of the Swat valley including Ningolai Nangyali, Miyandam Shazalmi, Margazar Gulona, Elum Batoran, Shamezai Baryali, Sangar Zwanan, Daral Stori and Malam Azmari, he noted.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2016