KARACHI: The visiting Canadian Seniors cricket team, comprising over-40 players, began their tour of Pakistan on a winning note as they overpowered Sui Southern Gas Limited Company Limited (SSGC) Seniors by four wickets in the opening game at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Sports Complex in Clifton on Saturday.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, the SSGC Seniors scored 148 for five in the allotted 22 overs. Mohammad Javed was the top scorer with an undefeated with 72 off 63 balls with the help of one six and eight fours. He added 63 for the second wicket with Mohammad Salman who struck 30 off 22 balls.

Left-arm medium-pacer, Nasir Khan, who was spearheading the Canadian attack, picked up a couple of wickets for 22 runs while spinners Raja Imran, Mahmood Ahmed and Mohammad Shafiq were the other wicket-takers.

Chasing a target of 149 in 22 overs, Canada Seniors got off to an enterprising start as openers Kashif Khan (29 off 30 balls) and Zulfiqar Khan (24 off 18 balls) added 44 for the first wicket.

The momentum was sustained by skipper Talal Iqbal who contributed a breezy 29 off 19 balls. SSGC Seniors fought back through left-arm spinner Sohail Mehdi, who captured three wickets for 29 in his five-over spell.

The fate of the match was hanging in balance until Raja Imran belted a couple of sixes in his unbeaten 15 off only six balls to take the visitors home.

Published in Dawn January 29th, 2017