KARACHI, Aug 24 Hosts Aga Khan Gymkhana (AKG) and Ali Sports emerged winners on the opening day of the 22nd AKG Ramazan Festival Twenty20 cricket tournament at the AKG Ground on Sunday.

Ali Sports defeated Wall Street CC by 35 runs in a Group 'A' fixture, while the AKG eased to a 38-run victory against their Group 'C' rivals Azad Cricket Club.

Zakir Malik was the star performer for Ali Sports, scoring 61 and claiming two wickets for 31. Leg-spinner Sarfraz Ahmed also shone with figures of four for 18 as the Wall Street CC struggled to 126-8 after being set a target of 162.

The AKG reached 176 for five in 20 overs against Azad CC with Hussain Ali contributing a 36-ball 67 with the aid of five fours and fours sixes.

Despite a fine 75 from Ibrahim Qureshi, who slammed six sixes and five fours in a 50-ball knock, Azad CC mustered just 138 in 17.1 overs. Leg-spinner Murtaza Hussain took four for 14.

Earlier, chief guest Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, the Sindh Sports Minister, paid tribute to the Aga Khan Gymkhana management for organising this event with a break for the last 22 years and lauded services of the AKG chairman Hakim Ali Khan, honorary secretary Khaliq Pasnani, Zulfiqar P. Khan, the cricket convener and Al Amin Turiyani, member AKG finance.

The minister said that the provincial government is promoting the cause of sports by constructing stadiums and playgrounds at various places across the province.

Summarised scores

Ali Sports beat Wall Street CC by 35 runs.

ALI SPORTS 161-8 in 20 overs (Zakir Malik 51, Riaz Ahmed 24; Samiullah 3-30, Mohammad Arif 2-31, Ubaid Umar 2-34); WALL STREET CC 126-8 in 20 overs (Ali Iqbal 49, Vinod Ramesh 31; Sarfraz Ahmed 4-18, Zakir Malik 2-8).

Aga Khan Gymkhana beat Azad CC by 38 runs.

AGA KHAN GYMKHANA 176-5 in 20 overs (Hussain Ali 67, Suleman Huda 36, Sikander Khan 35; Sohail Lala 2-28); AZAD CC 138 in 17.1 overs (Ibrahim Qureshi 75; Murtaza Hussain 4-14, Zeshan Khemani 2-28).