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President’s Cup Gold League: NBP book final date with SBP in high-scoring clash

Bankers make 340 to set up 48-run win over KRL.

Photo Athar Khan/Nabil Tahir January 30, 2015

Fawad Alam reaches for a ball outside off on his way to 68 off 62 balls as NBP made 340. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN/EXPRESS

KARACHI: Ziaul Haq’s four-wicket haul and a trio of half-centuries guided NBP into the final of the President’s Cup Gold League as they defeated KRL by 48 runs in the second semi-final at the National Stadium of Karachi yesterday to set up a final meeting with SBP tomorrow.

Batting first, NBP started off well with an opening partnership off 76 between Nasir Jamshed and Sami Aslam. However, Jamshed was bowled on 32 by Muhammad Yasin in the 15th over.

Aslam’s 59 off 62 helped him overtake Babar Azam as the leading run-scorer of the tournament with 464. Aslam and Kamran Akmal then added 50 before the 19-year-old was sent back to the pavilion by Nauman Ali. Fawad Alam came onto the crease and the experienced duo added a brilliant 97 at better than a-run-a-ball.

Kamran made 90 runs in his 75-ball innings before being dismissed by Rahat Ali. Alam also impressed with 68 off 62 balls.

Sadaf Hussain, the top wicket-taker in the tournament, added two more to his list as he dismissed Alam and Muhammad Nawaz, on 38, off consecutive balls. However, that did not stop NBP from reaching a massive total of 340.

Chasing 341, KRL never quite got going despite Imamul Haq and Saeed Anwar Junior making 105 off 114 balls for the third wicket.

Anwar was sent packing by Muhammad Asghar while Imam was dismissed by Zia. KRL then lost their last five wickets for 33 in the final six overs as Zia dismissed two more and Raza Hassan took three to end the KRL innings on 292.

“KRL is a good side but we played well with both bat and ball,” said Kamran, while talking to The Express Tribune. “We will play a positive game against SBP in the final but will have to fight hard to win the title.”

On the other hand, the Anwar-led KRL, who had not lost any of their group matches, failed to keep their winning streak going. “We were confident of making it to the final due to our previous performances, but our side was not up to the mark today.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2015.

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