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KARACHI, Feb 18: Aided by great teamwork, Pakistan Customs sprang a major surprise on Saturday when they dethroned Wapda to reach the final of the Patron’s Cup at the UBL Sports Complex.
Wapda, who were defending their title, succumbed to a 20-run defeat against a team whose ‘never-say-die’ approach deservingly earned them the right to play Habib Bank in Monday’s final at the NBP Sports Complex.
Customs, who had only once reached a national one-day final in 1999, bowled and fielded brilliantly to defend a modest target of 172 in the first semifinal.
At one stage, Wapda appeared on course for victory as Asif Hussain (50 off 108 balls, three fours) and wicket-keeper Ahmed Said (48 off 96 balls, two fours) added 100 for the fourth-wicket.
But once they were out in successive overs, Customs produced an inspired performance to take the last seven wickets for 37 runs.
Earlier, Customs reached 171 for nine after Wapda skipper Adil Nisar elected to field first.
Customs opener Kashif Siddique is almost certain to miss the final after breaking the middle finger of his left hand when a lifting delivery from Pakistan paceman Shabbir Ahmed struck him.
Kashif later came out at the fall of the ninth wicket and hung on until the overs were completed.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN CUSTOMS:
Kashif Siddique not out 5
M. Ali Niazi c Sarfraz b Bilal 35
Azhar Shafiq c Ahmed Said b Kashif 4
Afsar Nawaz c Ahmed Said b Kashif 22
Fawad Alam c sub (Aqeel) b Sarfraz 31
Aamir Iqbal c Ahmed Said b Shabbir 21
Murtaza Hussain run out 7
Azam Hussain c Aamir b Farooq 11
Jalat Khan c Ahmed Said b Shabbir 14
Stephen John not out 6
Imran Ali c Ahmed Said b Shabbir 1
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-10, NB-2) 14
TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 171
FALL OF WKTS: 1-33, 2-67, 3-87, 4-120, 5-131, 6-139, 7-162, 8-165, 9-167.
BOWLING: Shabbir Ahmed 10-1-35-3 (1nb, 6w); Sarfraz Ahmed 10-1-27-1 (2w); Kashif Raza 10-0-39-2 (1nb, 1w); Bilal Khilji 10-1-33-1; Farooq Iqbal 10-1-35-1 (1w).
WAPDA:
Adil Nisar c Jalat b Imran 10
Jahangir Mirza c Azhar b John 2
Asif Hussain b Jalat 50
Aamir Sajjad b Imran 0
Ahmed Said c Imran b Murtaza 48
Bilal Khilji c Murtaza b Azam 11
Ali Azmat run out 4
Farooq Iqbal b Murtaza 2
Shabbir Ahmed c John b Afsar 8
Sarfraz Ahmed c Jalat b John 7
Kashif Raza not out 3
EXTRAS (LB-6) 6
TOTAL (all out, 47 overs) 151
FALL OF WKTS: 1-10, 2-13, 3-14, 4-114, 5-116, 6-125, 7-132, 8-134, 9-141.
BOWLING: Imran Ali 8-3-19-2; Stephen John 10-3-31-2; Murtaza Hussain 10-2-22-2; Azhar Shafiq 4-1-10-0; Afsar Nawaz 8-0-27-1; Azam Hussain 5-0-23-1; Jalat Khan 2-0-13-1.
RESULT: Pakistan Customs won by 20 runs.
UMPIRES: M. Nazir Junior and Iqbal Butt.
MATCH REFEREE: Anwer Khan.
