KARACHI: Abdullah Ejaz excelled with a five-wicket haul as Pakistan were crowned champions of the Physical Disability T20 Tri-series after sealing a comprehensive 45-run victory over hosts England in the final played at the Chester Road North Ground in Kidderminster, Worcestershire on Wednesday.

PCB chairman Najam Sethi, captain of the senior Pakistan side Sarfraz Ahmed and PDCA president Rashid Latif were the first to send congratulatory messages to the Nihar Alam-led Pakistan Physical Disability squad. They hailed the winners while wishing them luck for the future as well.

Ian Martin, the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB)’s head of Disability Cricket, paid glowing tribute to the PDCA honorary secretary Amiruddin Ansari for his sincere efforts in promoting the game at this level in Pakistan. He also termed the Pakistan team as bunch of talented individuals who despite being handicapped showed tremendous cricketing skills.

A fine opening partnership of 81 between Hasnain Alam (48 off 36 balls, eight boundaries) and young Mohammad Shahbaz (34 off 24, four fours and one six) set solid platform for Pakistan who posted 189-7 after England captain Iain Nairn put them into bat upon winning the toss.

Wicket-keeper Saifullah, batting at No.3, contributed a breezy 18-ball cameo of 31 that included four fours and one six.

Liam O’Brien claimed two wickets for 32 runs in four overs.

England, in reply, were rocked upfront by a fiery burst from left-armer Abdullah Ejaz who dismissed Alex Hammond (16), Liam Thomas (2), Callum Flynn (first ball), Nairn (7) and Matt Askin (1)as the home side slid to 42-6 in the eight over.

O’Brien then struck some lusty blows as the all-rounder smashed six fours and four sixes in a defiant 40-ball knock of 75 but his heroics were in vain when Pakistan took the final wicket to bowl England out for 144 in 18.2 overs with man-of-the-match Abdullah taking 5-22 in four overs.

Martin later presented the winners’ trophy to Nihar Alam.

Brief scores:

Pakistan PHYSICAL DISABILITY 189-7 in 20 overs (Hasnain Alam 48, Mohammad Shahbaz 34, Saifullah 31; Liam O’Brien 2-32); ENGLAND PHYSICAL DISABILITY 144 in 18.2 overs (Liam O’Brien 75; Abdullah Ejaz 5-22, Waqaf Shah 2-24, Jahanzeb Tiwana 2-28).

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2018