KARACHI: Nadeem Shaikh’s century and Jaffer Qureshi’s three-wicket haul powered PVCA Seniors to a 14-run victory over the visiting Canadian Seniors cricket team, comprising over-40 players, here at the National Stadium the other day.

Earlier, in their first match of the tour, the Canada Seniors had beaten Sui Southern Gas Limited Company Limited (SSGC) Seniors by four wickets last week.

They will be playing four more matches during the tour, having been organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) and sponsored by Omar Associates (Pvt) Ltd.

Put into bat, the PVCA Seniors recovered to post a fighting total of 248 for nine in the allotted 35 which they defended successfully by restricting the visitors to 234 for nine. It was the 144-run fourth wicket stand between opener Nadeem Shaikh and Azhar Khan which revived the PVCA innings after they had lost three wickets for 50.

Nadeem Shaikh struck 19 boundaries in his 106 off 85 balls while Azhar Khan smashed eight boundaries in his 60 off 46 balls.

Off-spinner Mahmood (3-57) and leg-spinner Imran (2-32) bowled effectively for Canada Seniors after spearhead Nasir Khan (2-38) had delivered an impressive opening spell.

Chasing a target of 249, the Canadians lost wickets upfront, undone by left-arm spinner Jaffer Qureshi (3-26) who operated with the new ball. Having lost four wickets for 30, the visitors recovered through captain Talal Iqbal (52 off 57 balls) and Saqib (20 off 26 balls).

It was the off-spin of Ejaz Ahmed Khan, Commissioner, Karachi Division, which sent both the well-set batsmen back into the dressing room. An onslaught from Imran Raja, who whacked four sixes and nine fours in his unbeaten 78 off 51 balls, kept the contest alive until the very end and the home side had to bring all their experience into play to limit their rampaging opponents, who fell only 14 runs short of the target.

The PVCA opener, Nadeem Shaikh,was declared Man of the Match for his century.

Published in Dawn February 1st, 2017