Omar Associates captain Sarfraz Ahmed was presented with the Corporate T20 Cup trophy by Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi. PHOTO: TOURNAMENT ORGANISERS
KARACHI: All-rounder Anwar Ali, who was named man of the tournament, once again provided a sensational display of batting as his late 30-run unbeaten cameo helped Omar Associates clinch the Advance Telecom 3rd Corporate T20 Cup by defeating Port Qasim by five wickets in the final at the Moin Khan Academy.
Chasing a target of 149, Omar Associates got off to an impressive start as Zain Abbas and Saad Nasim provided a 64-run opening stand. Abbas top-scored with 38, smashing seven boundaries while Nasim hit a 20-ball 26 including a six and two strikes to the fence.
However, they lost three quick wickets with Azam Hussain picking up two and Abbas getting run-out. Sheryar Ghani’s 24 kept them going before he was dismissed as well. He was followed to the pavilion by skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed on the very next ball.
But Anwar upped his game when it was needed most as he hit two sixes and two boundaries in his 21-ball knock alongside Fakhar Zaman (20*) to put up a 50-run stand for the sixth-wicket to take their side home with four balls to spare.
Earlier, Port Qasim had scored 148 for seven courtesy Tanvir Ahmed’s 61 off 41 with four sixes and five boundaries while Khurram Manzoor chipped in with 27. Meanwhile, Nasim and Mohammad Irfan claimed two wickets apiece.
‘I aim to repeat same performances for Pakistan’
Anwar said that he has enjoyed remarkable success
in Ramazan tournaments but now he would like to do the same for the Pakistan team.
“My main aim now is to give similar performances for Pakistan when I turn up against Zimbabwe in the Twenty20s and one-dayers,” Anwar told The Express Tribune.
“Obviously, the expectations are much higher now but I’m not worried as I’ve prepared myself for it.”
He added that comparisons drawn with the likes of Azhar Mahmood and Abdur Razzaq are too early.
“Razzaq and Azhar both have proved themselves at the international level and were match winners. Comparing me with them isn’t right because it is only the start of my career and they are both world class all-rounders.”
Nasim was named man of the final for his brilliant all-round show while Port Qasim’s Abdur Rauf was named best bowler for taking nine wickets.
SSGC’s Awais Zia was rewarded with a return ticket to Abu Dhabi for hitting most sixes in the event as he smashed 15 of them while also receiving the best batsman award for scoring 222 runs which included his 128-run record knock in the competition.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2013.
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A return ticket to Abu Dhabi? And to think this was an award.