KARACHI, Dec 12: Discarded Pakistan wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed struck a blazing century to help six-time holders Pakistan CC become Group ‘A’ champions of the seventh NBP-KCCA Premier Cricket League with a crushing 178-run success over Al-Noor Gymkhana at the TMC Ground here on Wednesday.
Sarfraz hammered 114 off only 82 deliveries with the aid of 12 boundaries and three sixes as Pakistan CC plundered 299-9 in their stipulated 40 overs. Naeem Ahmed Khan scored 40 (three fours) in the opening partnership of 112 with the dominant Sarfraz.
Ali Asad hit 51 with two fours and one six, while Fakhar Zaman blasted three sixes in his 44.
Pakistan CC didn’t have to wait for long to register their sixth straight victory in Group ‘A’ after their bowlers dismissed Al-Noor Gymkhana for only 120 in 28.2 overs. Farrukh Rizvi was the lone batsman to offer some fight with 58 that included nine hits to the fence.
Dawood Sports, meanwhile, booked their passage into the semi-finals with a thrilling seven-run win against Pak Korangi CC in the Group ‘B’ fixture at the Landhi Gymkhana Ground.
Seasoned batsman Saeed bin Nasir starred by striking eight boundaries and a six in his knock of 76 as Dawood Sports made 194 all out in 40 overs. Naved Khan slammed five fours in making 42. Veteran slow left-armer Jaffer Qureshi claimed four wickets for 36 runs.
Pak Korangi CC, in reply, were bowled out for 187 in 39.4 overs. Ashraf Ali (53 with two fours and one six) and Mubashir Ahmed (40, four boundaries) were the main scorers.
Khalid Latif slammed five sixes and as many fours in a quickfire 91 off 64 balls and slow left-armer Sohaib Khan grabbed five wickets for 29 runs as Malir Gymkhana recorded a 45-run triumph against Vital Five CC at the RLCA Ground in Gulberg.
Batting first, Malir Gymkhana hit up 244-6 in their allotted overs. Off-spinner Yasir Hussain picked up three wickets for 18 runs.
Vital Five CC mustered 199 all out in 37 overs with Naumanullah contributing 42 that featured four fours. Apart from Sohaib, Shahzaib Hasan, another of the Pakistan discards, shone with three wickets for 47 runs.
Summarised scores: Pakistan CC beat Al-Noor Gymkhana by 179 runs at TMC Ground.
PAKISTAN CC 299-9 in 40 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 112, Asad Ali 51, Fakhar Zaman 44, Naeem Ahmed Khan 40; Israr-ul-Haq 2-46, Sajjad Mirza 2-55); AL-NOOR GYMKHANA 120 in 28.2 overs (Farrukh Rizvi 58; Adnan Kaleem 2-9, Faraz Ahmed Khan 2-21).
Dawood Sports beat Pak Korangi CC by seven runs at Landhi Gymkhana Ground.
DAWOOD SPORTS 194 in 40 overs (Saeed bin Nasir 76, Naved Khan 42; Jaffer Qureshi 4-36, Osama Basharat 2-33); PAK KORANGI CC 187 in 39.4 overs (Ashraf Ali 53, Mubashir Ahmed 40, Afsar Nawaz 32; Abdul Latif Junejo 2-28, Faisal Tahir 2-42).
Malir Gymkhana beat Vital Five CC by 45 runs at RLCA Ground (Gulberg).
MALIR GYMKHANA 244-6 in 40 overs (Khalid Latif 91, Imran Haider 47, Khurram Manzoor 43; Yasir Hussain 3-18); VITAL FIVE CC 199 in 37 overs (Naumanullah 42, Saad Alam 28, Hanif Malik 25; Sohaib Khan 5-29, Shahzaib Hasan 3-47).