KARACHI: A collective bowling effort backed by a steady half-century from Shahzaib Khan helped Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) to beat Pakistan Television (PTV) by four wickets in the final of the President’s Cup Grade-I here at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.
PTV captain Shamyl Hussain decided to bat first, but it appeared like he had misread the pitch, as his team failed to put on a big total on the scoreboard.
PTV bundled out on 164 runs in 40.2 overs despite the captain’s brisk half-century up the order.
Pakistan Television made a shaky start, losing their opener Yasir Khan cheaply in the second over with just 12 runs on the board.
Mohammad Mohsin (22) joined his captain in the middle after an early setback, and the pair built a partnership of 58 runs to anchor PTV’s innings before Ahmed Hassan broke the stand by getting the wicket of Mohsin in the 12th over.
Mohammad Suleman and Mohammad Taha then helped Hussain for brief partnerships until the former fell victim to Ahmad in the 18th over, walking back with the top score of a 44-ball 50, including six fours and two sixes.
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After Hussain’s departure, PTV’s batting order crumbled, losing its remaining seven wickets for just 74 runs.
Ahmad and Sufiyan Muqeem were the pick of the bowlers for KRL; each took three wickets apiece, Ahmed Bashir contributed with two, while Iftikhar Ahmed and Hamza Nazar finished with one apiece.
In pursuit of a modest 165-run target, KRL reached the winning runs for the loss of six wickets with 92 balls to spare, thanks to Shahzaib’s half-century.
Shahzaib scored a sensible 53 off 83 deliveries, laced with four fours and a six. He received support from Saad Baig (23) and captain Iftikhar Ahmed (25) before Muhammad Amir Barki and Hamza Nazar saw them over the line with an unbeaten 31-run stand.
Faisal Akram was the standout bowler for PTV, taking three wickets for 51 runs, while Ali Usman claimed two wickets and Israr Hussain one.
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