President’s Cup Gold League: NBP defeat Rams by 129 runs in their opener
SBP, KRL, SNGPL, Lahore Lions, ZTBL emerge victorious
BREAKING THE TREND: Lahore Lions were the only regional side to win their match in the first round of the President’s Cup Gold League against PQA as five departmental teams claimed victories. PHOTO: INP
KARACHI:
Ziaul Haq’s three-wicket haul and a trio of attacking half centuries led NBP to a convincing 129-run win over Rawalpindi Rams in their first fixture of the President’s Cup Gold League at the NBP Stadium in Karachi on Monday.
Put in to bat, the hosts posted a strong total of 288 in 47.1 overs, with Kamran Akmal making an 83-ball 84, Sami Aslam making 76 off 65 balls and Fawad Alam also scoring at better than run-a-ball in his 55-ball 57.
Munir Ansari took 4-57 but Rams were unable to restrict the bankers’ momentum, despite Hamza Sultan also claiming impressive figures of 3-39.
Chasing a steep 289, Rams were restricted to 159 in 44 overs as Zia claimed 3-29. Like with the bat, other players also chipped in as Raza Hasan, Alam and Muhammad Nawaz also claimed two wickets apiece.
Usman Saeed, with 51, and Talha Qureshi, with 42, were the only batsmen to impress for the losing side.
“The victory is a result of team effort,” said Raza, while talking to The Express Tribune. “Everybody chipped in and fulfilled their roles. We have started off well, which will give us confidence in the upcoming matches.”
Rams, meanwhile, were left ruing a poor start to the chase. “We couldn’t get off to a good start as we lost early wickets,” said Rams top-scorer Saeed. “We have to focus on our weaknesses.”
In another match at the Southend Club, SBP emerged comfortable 127-run victors over Islamabad Leopards as Kashif Bhatti took three wickets and Abid Ali made 85.
Batting first, SBP scored 272 in their allotted 50 overs with the help of Ali’s innings, along with Mukhtar Ahmed’s 77. Hamza Nadeem and Zohaib Ahmed took three and two wickets respectively for Islamabad Leopards.
Chasing 273, Leopards were restricted to 145 in 39.4 overs. Along with Bhatti’s three-for, Zafar Gohar and Zahid Mehmood also claimed two wickets apiece.
At the RLCA Ground in Karachi, KRL won by 24 runs against Karachi Zebras as an unbeaten Saeed Anwar Junior struck 121 off 103 balls in KRL’s first innings score of 277-4.
Sadaf Hussain and Noman Ali then took three and two wickets respectively to restrict the Zebras.
At the National Stadium of Karachi, Imran Butt made 98 off 111 balls to help SNGPL reach a target of 235 in 48 overs against Karachi Dolphins. Dolphins posted a total of 234 in 48 overs as Asad Ali took three wickets.
Chasing 235, SNGPL reached the target in 48 overs, despite Mir Hamza taking three wickets for Dolphins.
At the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Lahore Lions won by seven wickets against PQA. Batting first, PQA posted a total of 252 in 49.5 overs with the help of Khurram Manzoor’s 80 off 111 balls, while Saad Nasim took three wickets and Ali Tipu Sultan took two.
Chasing 253, Lions reached the target in 44.1 overs with the aid of Umar Siddiq’s 100 off 73 balls, while Waqas Saleem and Muhammad Akhlaq also impressed with 67 and 52 respectively.
Meanwhile, ZTBL were given a walkover against the Peshawar Panthers as the Peshawar side could not make it in time for the match due to flight delays.
Ziaul Haq’s three-wicket haul and a trio of attacking half centuries led NBP to a convincing 129-run win over Rawalpindi Rams in their first fixture of the President’s Cup Gold League at the NBP Stadium in Karachi on Monday.
Put in to bat, the hosts posted a strong total of 288 in 47.1 overs, with Kamran Akmal making an 83-ball 84, Sami Aslam making 76 off 65 balls and Fawad Alam also scoring at better than run-a-ball in his 55-ball 57.
Munir Ansari took 4-57 but Rams were unable to restrict the bankers’ momentum, despite Hamza Sultan also claiming impressive figures of 3-39.
Chasing a steep 289, Rams were restricted to 159 in 44 overs as Zia claimed 3-29. Like with the bat, other players also chipped in as Raza Hasan, Alam and Muhammad Nawaz also claimed two wickets apiece.
Usman Saeed, with 51, and Talha Qureshi, with 42, were the only batsmen to impress for the losing side.
“The victory is a result of team effort,” said Raza, while talking to The Express Tribune. “Everybody chipped in and fulfilled their roles. We have started off well, which will give us confidence in the upcoming matches.”
Rams, meanwhile, were left ruing a poor start to the chase. “We couldn’t get off to a good start as we lost early wickets,” said Rams top-scorer Saeed. “We have to focus on our weaknesses.”
In another match at the Southend Club, SBP emerged comfortable 127-run victors over Islamabad Leopards as Kashif Bhatti took three wickets and Abid Ali made 85.
Batting first, SBP scored 272 in their allotted 50 overs with the help of Ali’s innings, along with Mukhtar Ahmed’s 77. Hamza Nadeem and Zohaib Ahmed took three and two wickets respectively for Islamabad Leopards.
Chasing 273, Leopards were restricted to 145 in 39.4 overs. Along with Bhatti’s three-for, Zafar Gohar and Zahid Mehmood also claimed two wickets apiece.
At the RLCA Ground in Karachi, KRL won by 24 runs against Karachi Zebras as an unbeaten Saeed Anwar Junior struck 121 off 103 balls in KRL’s first innings score of 277-4.
Sadaf Hussain and Noman Ali then took three and two wickets respectively to restrict the Zebras.
At the National Stadium of Karachi, Imran Butt made 98 off 111 balls to help SNGPL reach a target of 235 in 48 overs against Karachi Dolphins. Dolphins posted a total of 234 in 48 overs as Asad Ali took three wickets.
Chasing 235, SNGPL reached the target in 48 overs, despite Mir Hamza taking three wickets for Dolphins.
At the Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad, Lahore Lions won by seven wickets against PQA. Batting first, PQA posted a total of 252 in 49.5 overs with the help of Khurram Manzoor’s 80 off 111 balls, while Saad Nasim took three wickets and Ali Tipu Sultan took two.
Chasing 253, Lions reached the target in 44.1 overs with the aid of Umar Siddiq’s 100 off 73 balls, while Waqas Saleem and Muhammad Akhlaq also impressed with 67 and 52 respectively.
Meanwhile, ZTBL were given a walkover against the Peshawar Panthers as the Peshawar side could not make it in time for the match due to flight delays.