KARACHI: Hosts Karachi Gymkhana suffered a heartbreaking four-run loss defeat against Qasmi Gymkhana in the 33rd Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Cricket Festival for the Omar Associates Trophy here at the KG Ground on Sunday.

On the first day of double header in the holy month of fasting, the Group ‘C’ match was by far the most exciting of the tournament thus far after Sindh Police had completed a facile six-wicket success against debutants Momin Seed CC in the Group ‘A’ encounter in the first half of the day.

Bilal Irshad was the standout performer with a scintillating innings as the opener contributed an undefeated 89 with his 60-ball innings adorned with eight fours and four sixes as Qasmi CC reached 156-4 after captain Abid Qasmi had opted to bat first at the toss.

Shahbaz Javed also batted well while scoring a run-a-ball 30 (three boundaries) during the solid opening partnership of 75 with man-of-the-match Bilal.

Slow left-armer Rafay Safdar continued his good form with two wickets for 20 runs in four overs, while off-spinner Haseeb-ur-Rehman chipped in with figures of 2-32 from four overs.

Karachi Gymkhana’s response ended at 152-7 after the hosts were reeling at 96-7 in the 15th over of the chase.

Slow left-armer Wasim Ali got rid of openers, Azhar Khan (15) and Taha Jindani (0), before Hasan Sardar claimed three wickets for 22 runs.

Mirza Sajjad scored 34 from 29 balls with the aid of five fours, while Furqan Khalil slammed three sixes and one in making an unbeaten 39 off 24 balls.

Momin Seed CC’s first taste of Ramazan cricket saw them manage just 106 all out after they decided to bat first at the toss.

Openers Azhar Abbas (29 off 22 balls, two sixes and two fours) and Khan Mohammad (20 off 23, three boundaries) began promisingly by sharing a stand of exactly 50 before wickets began to fall in a cluster.

Slow left-armers Ali Asghar and Tariq Khan shared five wickets between them with Ali snaring three wickets for 21 runs and Tariq 2-26. Leg-spinner Farooq Hasan then captured two wickets for 16 runs in four tidy overs.

Sindh Police lost four wickets before sealing victory through an unbroken partnership of 55 between Shiraz Ali (34 off 41 balls, one four) and Shaharyar Ghani (20 off 24, one four) before their side got home with 17 balls to spare.

Summarised scores:

Qasmi Gymkhana beat Karachi Gymkhana by four runs.

QASMI GYMKHANA 156-4 in 20 overs (Bilal Irshad 89 not out, Shahbaz Javed 30; Rafay Safdar 2-20, Haseeb-ur-Rehman 2-32); KARACHI GYMKHANA 152-7 in 20 overs (Furqan Khalil 39 not out, Mirza Sajjad 34, Bilal Munir 21; Hasan Sardar 3-22, Wasim Ali 2-30).

Sindh Police beat Momin Seed CC by six wickets.

MOMIN SEED CC 106 in 17.4 overs (Azhar Abbas 29, Khan Mohammad 20; Ali Asghar 3-21, Farooq Hasan 2-16, Tariq Khan 2-26); SINDH POLICE 110-4 in 17.1 overs (Shiraz Ali 34 not out, Shaharyar Ghani 20 not out; Arif Baloch 2-22).

Monday’s fixture: Tapal CC vs Sindh Police (Group ‘A’, 2:30pm).

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2018