Cricket: Punjab clinch Pentangular Cup in style

Down Sindh by 511 runs to lift trophy for the first time.

KARACHI:

Punjab’s maiden Pentangular Cup triumph came in style - a mammoth 511-run thumping of Sindh at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday.

Sindh, chasing an improbable 674 to win on the final day, were never going to overhaul the target but aimed at batting out the remaining overs to salvage some pride. It was not to be as they were reduced to 67 for five with Bilal Bhatti claiming three wickets. Eventually, the team was bundled out for 162 in just 54 overs.

Bhatti finished with four wickets in Sindh’s second-innings to take eight in the match, while left-arm spinner Raza Hasan picked up three.

Earlier, Punjab were all out for 412 in 87.3 overs. Resuming on 367 for six, Punjab added quick runs but Tanvir Ahmed claimed two scalps to finish with four for the innings.

‘Aamer was outstanding’

Punjab captain Taufeeq Umar termed the win a result of team work but singled out Aamer Sajjad’s double century – which earned him the man-of-the-match award – as crucial.

“We were outstanding as a team,” said Taufeeq. “Sajjad showed that age doesn’t matter and he’s made his case stronger to be considered for Pakistan. He’s 31 but really fit.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan international and Sindh captain Danish Kaneria was disappointed at the one-sided final.

“We missed the services of Mohammad Sami, Faisal Iqbal and Shahzaib Hasan and ended up conceding a shameful defeat,” said Kaneria.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2012.