KARACHI: A brilliant all round performance from talented Ramiz Aziz inspired defending champions Dollar East to a 40-run victory over Zee Estate in the 31st Aga Khan Ramazan T20 Cricket Tournament at the Aga Khan Gymkhana Ground here on Friday.

After losing to Jaffer Brothers in their opening fixture, Dollar East bounced back well through Ramiz who first scored a dazzling 49 without being dismissed from just 20 deliveries to help his team post an imposing 209-5. The left-hander hammered six sixes.

Discarded Pakistan opener Khurram Manzoor slammed six boundaries and one sixe in making a 34-ball 54, while Ijaz Ali Shah contributed 41 off 31 balls with five fours and two sixes as the two of them added 83 for the opening stand.

Jahandad Khan struck 36off 20 balls with three sixes and two fours.

Slow letf-armer Rao Khayyam claimed 2-26.

Zee Estate, in reply, fought valiantly as all-rounder Rao Khayyam led the way with a magnificent innings of 87 from only 42balls while striking five sixes and nine boundaries.

Zeeshan Farooq contributed 35 off 25 balls with four boundaries and two sixes as he helped Rao put on 104 for the opening wicket. Yawar Bashir scored 24 off 14 balls with two sixes and one four.

However, Zee Estate were restricted to 177-9 in 20 overs in end with Ramiz claiming three wickets for 41 runs, Kashif Bhatti and Azam Hussain taking two wickets each for 32 and 39 runs respectively.

Summarised scores:

DOLLAR EAST 209-5 in 20 overs (Khurram Manzoor 54, Ramiz Aziz 49 not out, Ijaz Ali Shah 41, Jahandad Khan 36; Rao Khayyam 2-26); ZEE ESTATE 177-9 in 20 overs (Rao Khayyam 87, Zeeshan Farooq 35, Yawar Bashir 24; Ramiz Aziz 3-41, Kashif Bhatti 2-31, Azam Hussain 2-29).

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2018