KARACHI: The RBG Warriors beat Logistics Lions by 21 runs in a thrilling final to win the NBP President’s T20 Inter-Group Cricket Tournament here at the NBP Sports Complex on Sunday.

President NBP Arif Usmani was the chief guest on the occasion and distributed the prizes. He lauded the high standard of cricket played in the tournament and praised the well organised arrangements. Arif reiterated that the NBP will continue to serve sports in a big way as it has always done in the past many decades.

He added that the T20 Inter-Group tournament will be an annual feature and he himself will ensure full support for the tournament and the bank’s brand ambassador and legendary all-rounder Wasim Akram will also impart regular lessons at the NBP Academy.

Head of tournament committee Arshad Hussain thanked the NBP president for gracing the final and presented an honorary shield to him. He added that the tournament would not have become so successful if all the group chiefs of NBP had not supported it wholeheartedly.

Earlier, RBG Warriors won the toss and elected to bat first, scoring 167 all out in the allotted 20 overs. Sher Mohammad was in great form and scored a breezy 43 in just 20 balls with two sixes and six fours while Irfan Pathan also belted two sixes and three fours in his 37. Ghafoor Dehalvi scored a quick fire 28.

Shahid Mushtaq bagged four wickets for 31 runs while Athar Iqbal captured three wickets for 36 runs.

In reply, Logistics Lions could score just 146 for 9 with Athar Iqbal scoring a rapid 65 off just 40 balls and Sohaib Rathore scored 30 off 38 deliveries. Sarmad Talpur captured 3 for 27 while Khurram Shehzad and Mohammad Abid bagged two wickets each.

Sarmad Talpur was named Man of the Match while Mohammad Ahsan was named best batsman and Sher Mohammad the best bowler.while Irfanuddin was named best wicket-keeper.

Also present on the occasion were SVP Sultana Naheed, Shehzad Kaleemi, Aqib Malik Anwar Farooqi, Saeed Azad, Azmatullah Khan and many others.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2020