Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: SNGPL crowned Gold League champions

Final match against NBP ended in a draw, SNGPL won on the basis of first-innings lead.

KARACHI:

Raza Hassan’s valiant ninth-wicket knock of 129 runs went in vain for NBP  as SNGPL won the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold League by virtue of a first-innings lead over NBP after the final ended in a draw at Karachi’s National Stadium yesterday.

NBP had resumed their second innings trailing by 26 runs with seven wickets in hand on the last day, with captain Kamran Akmal at 131 and Sami Aslam at 100 on the crease, but Akmal was soon dismissed on 137, leg before wicket on Yasir Shah’s delivery.

Aslam was also sent back to the pavilion after adding 22 more runs to his 122-run knock when he was leg before wicket on Imran Ali’s delivery. NBP then lost two more wickets in two overs.

Wahab Riaz and Hassan built an 86-run eighth-wicket partnership, which came to an end with Riaz run-out on 38. Raza then featured in another 87-run 10th-wicket partnership with Ziaul Haq, smacking a splendid ninth-wicket 129-run hit to help NBP post a 207-run lead.

In SNGPL’s second innings, Naeemuddin and Khurram Shahzad scored 11 and 17 runs respectively, after which the day’s play was called off. Manzoor Khan took seven wickets in the final match, Imran Ali bagged five, while Azhar Ali and Yasir picked up two each.

“It was a great match and the credit goes to all the players, especially [Muhammad] Rizwan who played magnificently [224 runs in the first innings],” said SNGPL captain Taufeeq Umar while talking to The Express Tribune. “Moreover, Manzoor’s splendid bowling was also valuable.

“The first innings matters a lot in this format, and as the pitch was batting-friendly, Rizwan and Shahzad took excellent advantage of it to put the team in a commanding position,” added the skipper.

He further said that winning the title was a significant achievement as they had defeated all first-class departments and regions to reach this stage. “I’m proud of my team, and want to thank our coach Basit Ali who has been a great support throughout the tournament.”

Meanwhile, NBP’s century-scorer Hassan said, “We tried our best to win the match, but SNGPL played a superb first innings, which sealed their win there and then.”

SNGPL received the winners’ trophy along with a cash prize of Rs2.5 million, while NBP were awarded a trophy and Rs1.5 million.

Rizwan was declared man-of-the-match for his double century, Naeemuddin was declared best batsman of the tournament for scoring 1,045 runs, PQA’s Sohail Khan was adjudged the best bowler for his 64 wickets and Zohaib Ahmed of Islamabad Leopards was termed the best all-rounder for his 404 runs and 37 wickets. All were given a cash prize of Rs50,000 each.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th,  2014.

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