KARACHI, Oct 9: A brilliant unbeaten knock of 182 runs by Arif Ali, coupled with an equally good all-round performance by Hasan Ahmed, enabled New Capital CC register a thumping 257-run victory over Nursery Gymkhana in the KCCA Zone I (B) Division , at the Student Sports ground.
Winning the toss and batting first, New Capital raced to a mammoth 352 for the loss of only three wickets in the 30 allotted overs through Arif Ali (182 n.o.), an innings studded with six towering sixes and 20 scorching boundaries. Hasan Ahmed also played well for his knock of 88 runs, containing seven fours, while skipper Farhan Qureshi, chipped in with a quick 33 runs. Shafiq Fazal bagged two of the three wickets that fell, for the fielding side, after conceding 107 runs.
Facing a daunting task for victory, Nursery Gymkhana were bundled out for only 95 runs with Nasrun Ahmed (38) and Jalaluddin (22), among the runs. Hasan Ahmed having a good stint with the leather also, was the pick of the New Capital attack, claiming 7/30. He was ably supported by Ihsan Ali 2/42.
In another encounter played at the TMC ground, Hamdam CC beat Abu Rehan CC by nine wickets.
Abu Rehan CC having first use of the batting strip, were skittled out for only 81 runs against the hostile bowling attack of Fahim Ahmed 5/17 and Mohammad Asgher 5/37. Kashif was the only Abu Rehan batsman to reach double figures with a fighting knock of 38 runs.
Set a relatively easy task for victory, Hamdam CC passed their opponents' total, losing only one wicket in the process in reaching 82 for 1, with Qamber Ali unbeaten with 40 runs when victory came.
In the third match played at the Al Mansoora ground, Young Al Hamra CC registered a three-wicket triumph over Al Karam Sports at the Al Mansoora ground.
Batting first, Al Karam Sports did well in reaching 256 for 9 in the 35 allotted overs through Umer Khairi (95) and Qamar Khan (30). Akif Aziz bagged 4/46 and Shafiq Kiyani picked up 2/72.
Chasing 257 runs for an outright victory, Al Hamra CC reached the winning target while scoring 259 for 7. Mohammed Saleem slammed five huge sixes in his hurricane knock of 70. Raza Iqbal (61) and Arifeen Siddiqui (34) also contributed to their team's winning total. Khurram 2/49 and Mukarram 2/60, bowled well for the losers.