KARACHI: Dawood Sports rode on a fine century from Shiraz Ali to secure the remaining quarter-final berth in the All-Karachi Prof Ejaz Ahmed Faruqi Invitation Cricket Tournament after annihilating Nazimabad Gymkhana ‘B’ by 169 runs here at the TMC Ground on Thursday.

At the completion of the league phase of the event, other clubs to qualify for the knockout phase are Airport Gymkhana, Al-Noor Gymkhana, Bilal Friends CC, Pakistan CC and Alamgir Gymkhana.

Shiraz starred with an 88-ball knock of 109, featuring nine fours and one six, as Dawood Sports posted 306-5 in their stipulated 45 overs and dismissing the rival outfit for a measly 137 in the 31st over.

An earlier fixture at the same venue, Mohammad Waqas struck a dazzling 131-ball 168 not out studded with 15 boundaries and six sixes to enable Malir Gymkhana to collect 325-4 but his heroics were in vain as the underdogs Shameel CC sealed a sensational one-wicket win by reaching 326-9 in 44.2 overs.

The architect of the incredible victory was opener Syed Ali Naseem who contributed a 115-ball 116 (10 fours and two sixes).

Summarised scores:

Dawood Sports bt Nazimabad Gymkhana ‘B’ by 189 runs at TMC Ground.

Bilal Friends CC bt Northern Gymkhana by six wickets at Landhi Gymkhana Ground.

DAWOOD SPORTS 306-5 in 45 overs (Shiraz Ali 109, Naved Khan 69, Kashif Iqbal 51); NAZIMABAD GYMKHANA ‘B’ 137 in 30.4 overs (Zafar Ali 40, Abdul Rauf 24; Junaid Naeem 3-26, Azhar Shah 2-24, Nadir Shah 2-36)

NORTHERN GYMKHANA 257 in 45 overs (Fahad Iqbal 95, Nadeem Javed 77, Ram Ravi 34, Anop Ravi 31; Afroze Hasan 3-22, Bilal Javed 3-62, Moazzam Malik 2-39); BILAL FRIENDS CC 263-6 in 44.2 overs (Afroze Hasan 67, Rizwan Mahmood 55, Osama Butt 55 not out, Moazzam Malik 41; Rashid Hanif 2-50)

Shameel CC bt Malir Gymkhana by one wicket at TMC Ground.

MALIR GYMKHANA 325-4 in 45 overs (Mohammad Waqas 168 not out, Ariz Kamal 61, Yasir Mushtaq 50; Hasrat Nawaz 2-5); SHAMEEL CC 326-9 in 44.2 overs (Syed Ali Naseem 115, Mohammad Rizwan 59, Ameer Mukhtar Niazi 39 not out; Haris Ayaz 3-68).

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2020