Karachi:Omar Associates defeated K-Electric by 11 runs in the first quarterfinal in Naya Nazimabad Ramzan Cup here at Naya Nazimabad Cricket Ground.
Batting first, Omar Associates posted 162-7 in 20 overs. Usman Khan played a quick 80-run knock off 45 deliveries. Omar Associates were four down for 77 runs but a stand between Khurram Shehzad and Usman Khan repaired the inning. Khurram and Asad Shafiq scored 18 each. Left-arm spinner, Sajid Khan grabbed three wickets.
In reply, K-Electric lost the current after the fall of seven wickets for just 37 runs. Captain Hassan Khan and Mohammad Mohsin brought their team back in the hunt. Mohsin got out after scoring 62 off 32 balls but Hassan Khan stood his ground as K-Electric were left with 18 runs to score in the final over of the inning. Hassan Khan remained not-out on 46. K-Electric fell short of the target. Right-arm paceman, Khurram Shehzad Jr finished with figures of 5-20. Usman Khan and Khurram Shehzad Jr were declared joint men of the match.
In the second quarter-final of the night, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) used the strip first against Agha Estate, and piled up 149-7. Kamran Akmal got out for 20 and NBP lost wickets at regular intervals and were 53 for 4. Ahsan Ali (53 off 37) held one end and late-order hitting by Ali Imran (40 off 28) gave respectability to the total. Off-spinner Shorab Baloch picked three wickets.
The game was in NBP’s pocket as Agha Estate lost the plot with four wickets down for just 21 runs. Usman Maya (45 off 35) and Muhammad Sarwar (46 off 48) lit up the hopes of Agha Estate with 84-run partnership. In the penultimate over of the inning, Zeeshan Khan and Waseem Qureshi hammered Ali Imran and escorted their team to touching distance from the target.
In the last over, bowled by Ghulam Madassir, Zeeshan stroked a sixer, to clinch 3-wicket victory with two balls to spare. Shorab Baloch bagged man of the match award.
On the second day of the quarter final stage, Pakistan Currency, Port Qasim, State Bank of Pakistan and Sui Southern Gas Company will be seen in action.
Newsdesk