KARACHI, Nov 29: In one of the most one sided matches to date in the 16th Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan cricket tournament, Ideal Group beat Karachi Gymkhana Blues by 77 runs at the Karachi Gymkhana ground Thursday.

Put into bat after losing the toss, Ideal Group made merry with the willow, scoring 179 for nine in their 25 overs.

Shahid Aslam top scored with 47 runs which came off 42 deliveries, studded with five boundaries and one huge six.

Imran Umar chipped in with 23 and Irfan Mushtaq 20.

Off-spinner Zeeshan Essa was the pick of the KG Blues attack, picking up three for 25 in his five over spell. Muqim Afridi weighed in with two for 17.

Needing 180 runs for an outright victory, KG Blues were never in the hunt for victory, bowled out for 102 runs in 22.3 overs.

Tottering at 61 for seven, KG Blues were in great danger of being dismissed for the lowest score in the tournament, but a rear guard fightback by Nadeem Zaidi who top scored with 23, saved the Gymkhana blushes.

KG Blues were finally bowled out for 102 runs, with off-spinner Muzaffar Hussain claiming three for 12.

With their second win in a row and with one match to go in the league rounds, Ideal Group seem to have booked their berth in the semifinal from Group A.

Holders KESC who beat last year’s champions Malir Gymkhana on the last delivery the previous evening, look certain to make it to the semifinals in Group B.

Friday’s fixture: Paragon CC v Professional Gymkhana.