KARACHI. Promising youngster Ahmed Abdul Malik produced a splendid all-round show to help Shalimar CC defeat POC Gymkhana by 67 runs in the opening fixture of the Pakistan Steel T20 Gold Cup cricket tournament at the Quaid-i-Azam Park in Steel Town here on Saturday.

The hard-hitting Ahmed slammed a dazzling 54 from just 27 balls with seven fours and two sixes. Later he grabbed five wickets for 25 runs in four overs of leg-spinner to be adjudged man-of-the-match.

Shalimar CC, having won the toss, posted a comparative 227-4. Nadeem Abbasi slammed a sparkling 79 of 40 deliveries (six sixes and five boundaries) and Sahir Khan a 23-ball 42 (three fours and one six) as the pair added 136 for the second wicket.

POC Gymkhana, in reply, were bowled out for 160 in 19.5 overs. Sufyan was the top scorer with 61 off 24 balls (six fours and one six), while Haris scored 28 off 13 balls (three four and one six).

Summarised scores:

SHALIMAR CC 227- 4 in 20 overs (Nadeem Abbasi 79, Ahmed Abdul Malik 54, Sahir Ahmed 43 not out, Tauseef Ahmed 28; Nihal Ahmed 2-29); POC Gymkhana160 in 19.5 overs (Sufyan 61, Haris 28; Ahmed Abdul Malik 5-25).

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2019