KARACHI: Seasoned first-class cricketer Misbah Khan excelled with a fine all-round performance in a thrilling one-run triumph for holders Omar CC in the third Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cricket Tournament at the Lawai Cricket Stadium here on Thursday night.

In a low-scoring game, Omar CC admirably defended small 120 by restricting Rivo Mobile to 119-9 in the stipulated 20 overs to chalk up their second straight victory in Group ‘A’.

Rivo Mobile won two of their three fixtures.

Man-of-the-match Misbah first scored 15 priceless runs with one six and a four before claiming three wickets for only 12 runs.

Opener Fazal Subhan was the top scorer with a 27-ball 22, while Umar Siddique hit 14 after Omar CC won the toss and opted to bat first on a pitch that proved extremely treacherous for batsmen.

All-rounder Zahid Mansoor captured 3-20 with his off-spinners. Out-of-favour Pakistan batsman Umar Amin switched to off-spin version instead of his customary occasional medium-pacers. The ploy worked as he snared two wickets for 20 runs. Slow left-armer Samiullah also bagged two wickets, while giving away 33 runs.

When Rivo Mobile batted, Ali Waqas emerged as the highest run-getter of the match with a 30-ball 28 with the help of two sixes and a solitary boundary; Naved Malik contributed 25 off just 12 balls with two fours and a brace of sixes.

Left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar provided Misbah excellent support with two wickets for 30 runs.

Summarised scores:

OMAR CC 120 in 20 overs (Fazal Subhan 22, Misbah Khan 15, Umar Siddique 14; Zahid Mansoor 3-20, Umar Amin 2-20, Samiullah 2-33); RIVO MOBILE 119-9 in 20 overs (Ali Waqas 26, Naved Malik 25, Ayaz Tasawwar 13; Misbah Khan 3-12, Zafar Gohar 2-30).

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2015

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