HBL lift One Day National Cup
HBL continue dominating Pakistan’s domestic circuit. Claim second domestic title after beating NBP in final.
HBL continued their domination of Pakistan’s domestic circuit after lifting the One-Day National Cup beating NBP by 64 runs.
The final turned out be a one-sided affair despite NBP boasting a strong playing eleven as HBL, the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy champions, racked up a competitive 273 on the board before bundling out the opponents for just 209.
Shahid Nazir was the destroyer-in-chief, claiming the first four wickets of NBP’s innings to put his side on top. A 61-run partnership between Hammad Azam and captain Fawad Alam failed to revive hopes as wickets fell at regular intervals after Pakistan-discard Danish Kaneria broke through.
Alam was dismissed for a fighting 82 and if NBP were hoping for a repeat of the semi-final when the tail wagged to give the team a fighting total, it did not happen as Mohammad Aslam claimed a brace to seal the win in the 43rd over.
Earlier, the tournament’s leading run-scorer Imran Farhat (476) was run-out off the first ball as HBL got off to the worst possible start. His brother Humayun added 48 with Taufeeq Umar in quick time before Uzairul Haq claimed the first of his four wickets.
He finished with four for 55 but as wickets fell, HBL kept adding runs. Shan Masood (76) hit his highest score of the tournament while Saleem Elahi made 63. Mohammad Talha came back to the attack and claimed two wickets but by then, HBL had enough runs on the board. The only consolation for NBP, however, was that two of their bowlers – Talha and Haq – shared the top wicket-taker slot with both taking 21 in seven matches.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2011.
The final turned out be a one-sided affair despite NBP boasting a strong playing eleven as HBL, the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy champions, racked up a competitive 273 on the board before bundling out the opponents for just 209.
Shahid Nazir was the destroyer-in-chief, claiming the first four wickets of NBP’s innings to put his side on top. A 61-run partnership between Hammad Azam and captain Fawad Alam failed to revive hopes as wickets fell at regular intervals after Pakistan-discard Danish Kaneria broke through.
Alam was dismissed for a fighting 82 and if NBP were hoping for a repeat of the semi-final when the tail wagged to give the team a fighting total, it did not happen as Mohammad Aslam claimed a brace to seal the win in the 43rd over.
Earlier, the tournament’s leading run-scorer Imran Farhat (476) was run-out off the first ball as HBL got off to the worst possible start. His brother Humayun added 48 with Taufeeq Umar in quick time before Uzairul Haq claimed the first of his four wickets.
He finished with four for 55 but as wickets fell, HBL kept adding runs. Shan Masood (76) hit his highest score of the tournament while Saleem Elahi made 63. Mohammad Talha came back to the attack and claimed two wickets but by then, HBL had enough runs on the board. The only consolation for NBP, however, was that two of their bowlers – Talha and Haq – shared the top wicket-taker slot with both taking 21 in seven matches.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2011.