KARACHI, Jan 24: A magnificent unbeaten century from talented Naveed Khan inspired Dawood Sports into the final rounds of the inaugural Mehdi Hasan Memorial KCCA Inter-club cricket tournament, which resumed after a long gap here on Wednesday.
Naved smashed 124 off 120 balls with the aid of nine boundaries and a brace of sixes as Dawood Sports collected 222-5 in their 40 overs on their way to defeating Lions Area Gymkhana by 51 runs at the TMC Ground. Ahmer bin Saeed contributed 57.
Chasing 223, Lions Areas Gymkhana managed a total of 171 in 39 overs despite fighting innings of 77 by Shahzar Hasan (77) and Majid Khan (59). Leg-spinner Azhar Shah captured three wickets for 28 runs.
A superb all-round performance from Ariz Kamal helped Malir Gymkhana also book their place in the next phase of the competition after easily beating Pak Mujahid CC by 82 runs at the Landhi Gymkhana Ground.
Batting first, Malir Gymkhana reached 242-8 in their allotted number of overs. Ariz, younger brother of former Test batsman Asim Kamal, struck six boundaries in making 62, while Haris Ali Khan scored 54 with four hits to the fence.
Medium-pacer Noor Ahmed grabbed three wickets for 44 runs.
Pak Mujahid CC, in reply, were dismissed for 160 in the 32nd over with Wasim Ahmed emerging as the leading scorer with 39.
Slow left-armer Sohaib Khan claimed four wickets for 32 runs and Ariz chipped in with figures of three for 32 with his leg-spinners.
Summarised scores:
Dawood Sports beat Lions Area Gymkhana by 51 runs at TMC Ground.
DAWOOD SPORTS 222-5 in 40 overs (Naveed Khan 124 not out, Ahmer bin Saeed 57; Masoom Ali 2-39); LIONS AREA GYMKHANA 171 in 39 overs (Shahzar Hasan 77, Majid Khan 59; Azhar Shah 3-28, Atif Ali Zaidi 2-5).
Malir Gymkhana beat Pak Mujahid cc by 82 runs at Landhi Gymkhana Ground.
MALIR GYMKHANA 242-8 in 40 overs (Ariz Kamal 62, Haris Ali Khan 54, Saad Surkhail 41, Daniyal Ahsan 36, Junaid Gill 24; Noor Ahmed 3-44, Saifullah Magsi 2-40); PAK MUJAHID CC 160 in 31.4 overs (Wasim Ahmed 39, Hasan Ali 30; Sohaib Khan 4-32, Ariz Kamal 3-32, Amanullah 2-25). —Sports Reporter