KARACHI, Dec 6: A dashing century by Agha Sabir, coupled with deadly right-arm leg-spin bowling by Iqbal Sikander, enabled former champions Airport Gymkhana register a comfortable 78-run victory over Total Energy, in the Paragon Cup 2001 cricket tournament played Thursday at the UBL A ground.

Put into bat after losing the toss, Airport Gymkhana got off to a marvellous start when Agha Sabir (106) and Kamran Ali (47) put on 142 runs for the first wicket before the latter parted company.

Kamran who faced 37 deliveries hit two boundaries and one six. Agha the more aggressive of the two, walloped 14 boundaries and two sixes in his 80-ball innings. With Hafiz Bilal chipping in with 22 not out, Airport Gymkhana reached 200 for five in their 25 allotted overs.

Leg-spinner Ajaz Ahmed picked up four for 39 and was the only bowler who commanded respect from the marauding Airport Gymkhana batsmen.

Chasing 201 runs for victory, Total Energy were never in the chase for victory, bowled out for 122 runs in 20.2 overs with Irfan Ahmed (28) and Jawwad Ali (22), the only batsmen to offer any resistance against the the spin and guile of Iqbal Sikander (3-11) and slow left-arm Asif Mujtabba (2-19). Agha Sabir was later named the Man of the Match.