WAPDA shock star-studded HBL at President’s Cup

Riffatullah hits century as team wins by 5 wickets.

KARACHI:

Riffatullah continued his excellent run in the President’s Cup one-day tournament, hitting his second successive century to help Wapda down HBL by five wickets in their Group B match at the National Stadium, Karachi.

Set a target of 287, Wapda completed the job in the 48th over, courtesy a 160-run opening stand between Riffatullah, who made 112, and Saad Nasim, who struck 84.

Another in-form batsman Sohaib Maqsood contributed a crucial 66, while HBL’s Shahid Afridi took two wickets.

Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad’s knock of 123 and Asad Shafiq’s 79 propelled HBL to 286 for seven in 50 overs. Fast-bowler Junaid Khan claimed four wickets.

Meanwhile, PIA suffered their second consecutive defeat of the event as they were pipped by UBL by nine runs in Garhi Khuda Baksh.

UBL made 222 for eight, while batting first as Adil Ali top-scored with 91. In reply, PIA were dismissed for 213 with nine balls to spare as Shaharyar Ghani made 52.

Sharjeel, Talat thrash Sami-less PQA

In Group A, ZTBL opener Hussain Talat and Sharjeel Khan were involved in a 169-run opening-wicket partnership as the team beat PQA by eight wickets. ZTBL chased down the 298-run target in 42.2 overs.

Talat, the star of the show, remained unbeaten on 141. Haris Sohail remained not out on 56. Earlier, PQA made 297 for six as Khurram Manzoor hit 122.

“It’s an important win as we were able to chase down a competitive target with ease against a quality side,” Khan told The Express Tribune. “It has been a good event for me since I’ve hit four half-centuries but I’m a bit disappointed because I missed on two centuries.”

NBP’s left-arm spinner Raza picked up a four-wicket haul to help his team down KRL by 12 runs at the LCCA Ground in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2013.