KARACHI: Inspired by a brilliant Saad Khan century, Ghouri CC qualified for the last-16 phase of the All-Sindh Prof Ejaz Ahmed Faruqi Invitation Cricket Tournament after defeating fellow Hyderabad side Agha CC by a crushing margin of 264 runs on Monday.

Playing their last league-round fixture at the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Ghouri CC amassed 409-8 in the stipulated 45 overs with Saad bludgeoning 150 off just 96 deliveries (14 boundaries and nine sixes) while sharing a second-wicket partnership of 177 with Uzair Jafri (85, 11 fours).

Saad then grabbed three wickets for 30 as Agha CC were bowled out for 145 in 29 overs.

Meanwhile, the organisers announced the remaining matches of the event will be played after the holy month of Ramazan.

Summarised scores:

Ghouri CC Hyderabad beat Agha CC Hyderabad by 264 runs at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad.

GHOURI CC HYDERABAD 409-8 in 45 overs (Saad Khan 150, Uzair Jafri 85, Asad Malik 45, Raheel Qureshi 42; Kaleem Siddiqui 2-65, Abdullah Khan 2-73; AGHA CC HYDERABAD 145 in 29 overs (Samad Lohar 29, Arif Khan 26, Abdullah Khan 23, Fardeen Shah 21; Saad Khan 3-30, Asad Malik 2-18, Babar Khan 2-29).

Northern Gymkhana beat Taimuria Sports by seven wickets at KCCA Stadium.

TAIMURIA SPORTS 141 in 31.3 overs (Ghulam Ashraf 51, Alam Shafiq 29, Mohammad Faheem 25; Moonis Ahmed 4-21, Nehal Rasheed 2-18, Umair Sheikh 2-31, Hasnain Ahmed 2-47); NORTHERN GYMKHANA 144-3 in 21.5 overs (Ram Ravi 42, Daniyal Rajput 42 not out, Anop Ravi 27 not out, Rameez Aziz 22. Javed Hussain 2-37).

Played on Sunday:

Agha CC Hyderabad beat Fazal-ur-Rehman Sports Hyderabad by six wickets at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad.

FAZAL-UR-REHMAN SPORTS HYDERABAD 169-6 in 45 overs (Naeem-ur-Rehman 46, Jibran Ali 31, Shahabuddin 26, Abdul Rehman 25 not out; Abdullah Khan 2-15, Aamir Baloch 2-38); AGHA CC HYDERABAD 170-4 in 34 overs (Fardeen Sheikh 76 not out, Arif Shah 54; Shahabuddin 2-22).

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2021