KARACHI, Nov 12: Hostile pace bowling by Stephen John, coupled by an entertaining unbeaten knock of 36 by former Test star Asif Mujtaba, enabled Airport Gymkhana register a four-wicket victory over Deewan Mushtaq Sugar Mills in the 17th Karachi Gymkhana Callmate cricket festival played on Tuesday at the Karachi Gymkhana ground.

Winning the toss and deciding to have first use of the wicket, Deewan Mushtaq Sugar Mills got off to a horrible start losing their first two wickets to John without a run on the board.

However, a rearguard fightback by Mansoor Ahmed (43), Iftikhar Ahmed (41), Zeeshan Pervaiz (25) and Adnan Kaleem (19 n.o.), saw Deewan Mushtaq Sugar Mills reach 155 for nine wickets in their 25 allotted overs.

Paceman John was the pick of the Airport Gymkhana attack claiming for wickets for 38 runs in his five fiery overs.

Left-arm Asif Mujtaba, who opened the bowling attack with John bagged two for 24 and left-arm spinner Nadeem Khan weighed in with two for 27.

Chasing 156 runs for victory, Airport Gymkhana reached the winning target with five deliveries to spare, after losing six wickets in the process.

Mujtaba was still at the wicket with 36 runs when victory came. Also among the runs were Mohammad Masroor (33), Sohail Jaffer (27), and Ahmed Zeeshan (21).

Nasir Khan using the new ball for good measure, picked up two for 25 runs and Mansoor Ahmed claimed two for 36 for the losing side.

The Man of the Match award was shared by Stephen John and skipper Asif Mujtaba.