KARACHI A remarkable spell of bowling from Zulfiqar Babar inspired Balochistan Bears to a sensational victory over Punjab Stallions in a low-scoring RBS Pentangular Cup One-day Tournament fixture at the National Stadium here on Thursday evening.
Zulfiqar, who is enjoying a great season, hastened a dramatic Stallions collapse as the Bears, defending a modest total of 149, engineered a 40-run triumph with the 31-year-old Okara-born slow left-armer returning career-best figures of six wickets for mere 10 runs in eight overs.
By all means, the result was astonishing for a small turnout because the odds were clearly in the Stallions' favour with the scoreboard reading 83-2 after 22 overs.
But Zulfiqar's magnificent bowling tilted the game towards the Bears who themselves struggled in the first half of the match against the pace trio of Mohammad Talha (4-28 in 8.3 overs), Asad Ali (3-32 in 8) and Imran Ali (2-29 in 8) after opting to bat first in the hot afternoon sunshine.
Opener Taufiq Umar utilised his experience the fullest as he battled hard for a well-crafted half-century. The left-hander was ninth out after scoring 57 off 95 deliveries with five hits to the ropes.
Jalat Khan, better renowned his spin bowling, contributed an invaluable 38 off 48 balls after the Bears were on the ropes at 23-5 in the ninth over. But Jalat, who slammed five fours and one six, partnered Taufiq in what later proved to be a match-winning stand of 64.
The Stallions, in their turn at the crease, were rocked by two early mishaps as the gangling left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Irfan ripped out skipper Imran Farhat and Aamir Sajjad in the 12th over of the innings before regaining control via Nasir Jamshed's 79-ball knock of 45 (four boundaries).
However, they were in for a big shock once Zulfiqar started to make inroads with five wickets in succession ajdjust 20 runs added to the total.
Jalat provided Man-of-the-Match Zulfiqar good support with two wickets to complete a thoroughly win for the Bears in a game that yielded just 258 runs in a 74.3 overs with all 20 wickets going down.
The result means the Stallions are all but out of reckoning for a place in the April 29 final as it was their second straight defeat.
Summarised scores
Balochistan Bears beat Punjab Stallions by 40 runs.
BALOCHISTAN BEARS 149 in 40.3 overs (Taufiq Umar 57, Jalat Khan 38; Mohammad Talha 4-28, Asad Ali 3-32, Imran Ali 2-29); PUNJAB STALLIONS 109 in 34 overs (Nasir Jamshed 45; Zulfiqar Babar 6-10, Jalat Khan 2-15, Mohammad Irfan 2-37).
