Sindh win in thriller

KARACHI: Hasan Raza hit a superb 78 off 77 balls as Sindh Dolphins defeated Balochistan Bears by three wickets on the last ball of their RBS Pentangular One Day Cup match. Raza, who added 17 runs for the eighth wicket with Tanvir Ahmed, hit eight boundaries as Dolphins overhauled the 304-run target set by the Bears.

It was after Khurram Manzoor and Shahzaib Hasan added 110 runs for the opening wicket in 111 balls to set the tone for the rest of the innings. With a few quick wickets, Bears were right back in the game before Raza and wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed added 71 for the fifth wicket to keep the match in balance. Bears earlier set a competitive target for the Dolphins.

Saeed Anwar Junior (29) and Taufeeq Umar (74) provided an opening stand of 42 till Anwar Ali had him caught behind. But it was the second-wicket 147-run partnership with Abid Ali (94) that took Bears to their huge total. Umar, who has been out of favour for the national side, hit five fours in his 92-ball knock while Ali was more aggressive, hitting 11 boundaries in 106 deliveries. But Bears lost their way after the dismissal of Umar before the 21-year old Rameez Alam gave the muchneeded impetus, cracking a quickfire 52 off 35 balls.