ISLAMABAD, April 5: Ashar Zaidi snapped up three wickets and then stroked 77 not out as Diamond Club checked into the final of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi Inter-City Super Championship on Tuesday with a seven wicket thrashing of Gul Club in the semifinals.

After restricting the opponents to 171 in 42.1 overs, Diamond rode on Ashar's 62-ball knock and were home in the 29th over losing three wickets on the way.

Ashar belted nine fours and a six in his marvellous innings playing a key role in victory.

Also doing well was Ameer Khan who chipped in with 34 off just 33 balls and struck six fours.

For Gul Club, Malik Naveed topscored with 47 followed by Sajid Mahmood who hit up 42. Ashar captured three wickets for 33 runs and Rauf Akbar also took as many giving away 36 runs.

Diamond will now host Punjab Club, who beat Victory by five wickets, in Thursday's final.

Top eight teams of Rawalpindi and Islamabad are competing in the tournament.

Summarised scores:

Diamond bt Gul by seven wkts. Gul 171 in 42.1 overs (Malik Naveed 47, Sajid Mahmood 42; Ashar Zaidi 3-33, Rauf Akbar 3-36, Zohaib Ahmed 2-38);

Diamond 175-3 in 28.5 overs (Ashar Zaidi 77 not out, Ameer Khan 34, Atif Ashraf 27; Akhtar Ayub 1-25, Zulfiqar Younis 1-22).