KARACHI: Seasoned all-rounder Tariq Haroon produced a stunning display of power-hitting as Royal CC retained their title in the fourth edition of the Dollar East T20 Premier League after crushing Rangoonwala CC by 65 runs here on Friday.

Tariq lit up the Aga Khan Gymkhana Ground by smashing seven boundaries and a brace of sixes in a sensational unbeaten 44-ball innings of 76 to help Royal CC collect 192-4 after skipper Mir Afzal Baig won the toss in the final.

Opener Ijaz Ali Shah, who was later adjudicated man-of-the-tournament for amassing 270 runs and claiming three wickets, provided early fireworks with a breezy 18-ball 35 which included four fours and a brace of sixes.

The tempo of the game changed dramatically when veteran Tariq arrived to join wicket-keeper/batsman Mirza Adnan Baig. The duo savaged the Rangoonwala CC bowlers to all parts of the ground in a blistering fourth-wicket partnership of 114.

At this point, Adnan was out for 46 with his 29-ball knock adorned with seven boundaries.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Sami ended up making 10 not out.

Slow left-armer Wasim Ali bowled a fine spell of 2-31 in four overs but the pick of the Rangoonwala bowlers was promising paceman Ali Mudassar who gave away just 19 runs in his four-over stint.

But Rangoonwala CC, then found the going extremely difficult before eventually capitulating for 127 in 17.4 overs. Opener Ahsan Ali hit 20 off 13 deliveries with three fours, Zakir Malik made 16 off eight balls with three hits to the fence before Babar Hussain Agha (25 off 20 balls, two fours and one six) and captain Owais Ahmed Rehmani put on 51 for the fourth wicket.

Owais was top scorer with 46 off 36 balls while striking three fours and one six.

Slow left-armer Ali Yousuf, who was duly named best bowler of the tournament with 15 wickets, grabbed his third four-for in taking 4-20 in four overs with fellow left-armer Amjad Manzoor claiming 2-25 in 3.4 overs and leg-spinner Mohammad Ilyas 2-17 in three overs.

Zaheer Ahmed Sheikh, Dollar East’s head of sports, graced the occasion as the chief guest and distributed the prizes.

Among other individual award winners, Tariq was the undisputed recipient of the man-of-the-match prize with Adnan Baig declared best wicket-keeper for 11 dismissals (seven catches and four stumpings) plus two run-outs; team-mate Tanvir-ul-Haq won the fielder award for holding seven catches and effecting one run out, while Rangoonwala CC’s Ahsan Ali bagged the best batsman prize for scoring 240 runs in only three matches.

The chief guest, in a brief speech, singled out the hardworking tournament coordinator Zubair Sheikh for special praise in organizing the tournament in a benefitting manner.

Summarised scores:

ROYAL CC 192-4 in 20 overs (Tariq Haroon 76 not out, Mirza Adnan Baig 46, Ijaz Ali Shah 35, Mir Afzal Baig 15; Wasim Ali 2-31); RANGOONWALA CC 127 in 17.4 overs (Owais Ahmed Rehmani 46, Babar Hussain Agha 25, Ahsan Ali 20; Ali Yousuf 4-20, Mohammad Ilyas 2-17, Amjad Manzoor 2-25).

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2017