President’s Cup Silver League: Maqsood, Usman guide WAPDA to seven-wicket win

Duo pick up three wickets apiece against Bahawalpur Stags in third round.

KARACHI: A three-wicket haul each for Waqas Maqsood and Khalid Usman guided Wapda to their seven-wicket victory over Bahawalpur Stags in the third round of the Haier President’s Cup Silver League at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday.

Batting first, Stags were restricted to 121 as Maqsood and Usman bagged three scalps apiece, while Moinuddin (54) was the top scorer for Stags.

In reply, Wapda reached the target in 18.5 overs as Iftikhar Ahmed scored 38, while Muhammad Fayyaz scored 36 and Hassan 28.

In another match, centuries by captain Awaiz Zia and Muzammil Nizam guided SSGC to an impressive 102-run victory over Lahore Eagles. Batting first, SSGC posted 310 runs, with Nizam unbeaten on 114 and Zia scoring 112. Asif Raza picked up three wickets for Eagles.

Chasing 311, Eagles were restricted to 208 runs as Adnan Ghaus took three wickets with Nasir Malik and Faheed Ahmed claiming two each.

In another match at Mirpur Khas, a 92-run knock by Faisal Akhtar helped Hyderabad Hawks reach their 293-run target with four wickets to spare against UBL. Azeem Ghumman aided Akhtar with his 69-run knock. Earlier, Bismillah Khan scored 145 runs for UBL as Lal Kumar took three wickets.

At the Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala, Haris Khan’s three-for helped Abbottabad Falcons defeat Sialkot Stallions by 26 runs. Batting first, Falcons posted 241 as Nasir Khan and Sohail Akhtar scored 57 runs each, while Hasan Ali took four wickets for Stallions.

Chasing 242, Stallions were dismissed on 215 as Haris bagged three and Shakeel Ahmed and Inam Khan picked up two wickets each.

In another match, centuries by Muhammad Naeem and Raheel Majeed led PTV to their seven-wicket win over Multan Tigers. Chasing 269, PTV reached the target courtesy of Naeem’s unbeaten 115 and Majeed’s 102.

At the Aga Khan Gymkhana Ground in Karachi, Kamran Sajid (135) and Faisal Iqbal (119) posted centuries and guided PIA to a 37-run victory over Quetta Bears. PIA posted a total of 306 runs with the help of Sajid and Iqbal, while Bears were sent packing on 269 as Muhammad Ibrahim dismissed three batsmen.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th,  2015.

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