KARACHI: Daniyal Ali put on a superb all-round performance as Pak Gymkhana won the Omar Associates Trophy, beating Faisal Gymkhana by 14 runs here at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium.

Batting first, Pak Gymkhana posted a total of 242 for eight in their 40 overs. Mohammad Danish top-scored with 62 hitting two sixes and four boundaries while Daniyal Ali chipped in with 37. Waleed Hussain (36), Saeed Hassan (32) and Mehtab Hussain (28) also played valuable knocks. Naeem Mashwani claimed three wickets while Noman Khan picked up two wickets.

In reply, Faisal Gymkhana bundled out for 228 as Daniyal claimed four scalps while Saeed got three wickets. Fayyaz Hussain made 44 in the losing cause while Asim Zahoor scored 41. At the end of the final, Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Siddiqui distributed prizes among the players. The winners’s skipper Kamran Khan received cash prize of Rs100,000 while runner-up got Rs50,000.

Meanwhile, trophies and cash prizes of Rs5000 were give to Man of the Final, best bowler, best batsman, best wicket keeper and Man of the Tournament who were Danyal Ali, Rao Sajid Ali, Fayyhaz Hussain, Nadeem Shad and Akhtar Ali respectively.

Nadeem Omar, Asma Ali Shah, Dr,Imran Ali Shah, Hassan Omar, Muhammad Ashraf, Ajmal Naseeb, Zia Ahmed Siddiqui, S.M Adil Shamim Anwer and Musarat Raza attended the ceremony and appreciated the efforts of the organisers in promoting cricket on zonal level.

Commissioner Karachi said that live telecast of this zonal tournament will not only create enthusiasm in upcoming players but also healthy competition among them which will give talented players to Pakistan. “I appreciate sincere efforts of Nadeem Omar for taking keen interest for promoting cricket and sports in Pakistan,” he said.

Former chief selector Salahuddin Sallu said such events will provide opportunities to the youngsters to show their talent to the concerned authorities at district and Pakistan level.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play