Farhat and Umar put on 143 for the first wicket. Umar was eventually dismissed for 61 off 85 deliveries while Farhat fell short of a deserved century, out for 89.
Earlier, a disciplined bowling performance bundled out Wapda for 205. Fahad Masood started the rout, sending back the openers before Kamran Hussain and Mohammad Aslam sprung a middle-order collapse. Sohaib Maqsood was the lone batsman offering any resistance with his 87 and tried hard with the tail before Danish Kaneria dismissed him.
Bhatti, Haq demolish PIA
NBP outclassed PIA by 32 runs in the other semi-final. Captain Fawad Alam (46), Sarmad Bhatti (73) Mohammad Talha (49) were all involved in meaningful partnerships after NBP were reduced to an embarrassing 30 for four. Bhatti and Talha put on 70 for seventh wicket in quick time as PIA struggled to keep their dominance. Talha was deprived of his half-century but Bhatti continued the good work with Uzairul Haq and put on a 64-run unbroken partnership as NBP ended up with a competitive 248 on the board.
Talha and Haq then ensured the runs were out of reach as PIA were bundled out for 216 in the 45th over. Man-of-the-match Haq took four for 44 and Talha claimed a brace for 30.
Earlier Anwar Ali had put PIA on top as he destroyed the top order taking four for 37.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2011.
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