Malik, Irfan dominate as SSGC defeat NBP

Bowlers dismiss three batsman each to guide side to 65-run win

KARACHI: Three wickets each by veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik and tall left-arm pacer Muhammad Irfan helped SSGC defeat NBP by 65 runs in the National One-Day Cup for departments at the UBL Ground in Karachi on Tuesday.

Batting first, SSGC posted a total of 246-9 courtesy Zain Abbas’ 66 off 108 balls. He was well supported by Saif Bangash, who scored 48 off 56 balls.

Chasing 247 to win, NBP never took control of the match due to some fine bowling from Irfan and Malik, who claimed three wickets apiece, as Qaisar Abbas’ men were bowled out for 181 in the 44th over.

Right-handed opener Hamza Paracha finished the innings as the top scorer with 40 runs off 67 balls.

In the other match, PIA stunned WAPDA by five wickets, courtesy Faisalabad’s Hassan Mehmood’s brilliant bowling spell in which he took three wickets and just gave away 32 runs in 10 overs.

Batting first after winning the toss, WAPDA managed to score 219-7 as captain Salman Butt top-scored for his with his 73-run knock.

In reply, PIA chased the target with five wickets and nine balls to spare. Opener Abdul Samad was the top scorer of the innings with 51 off 82, whereas Saadullah scored 49.

At the National Stadium of Karachi, an unbeaten century by middle-order batsman Aftab Alam helped HBL win their match against KRL by five wickets.

In another match, UBL defeated top-ranked SNGPL by 23 runs at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad.

UBL’s opener Shan Masood scored a stunning 108 off 103 balls as the victorious side posted a decent total of 265 on the board batting first.

Chasing 266, SNGPL were bowled out for 242 in 48.2 overs.