Ishaq Khan
PESHAWAR: A blistering knock of 168* by captain of PPC Bahadur Yasir Ali helped the defending champions to outclass PPC Sultans by a massive 144-run margin in the ongoing 3rd RMI Media Cricket League (MCL).
Yasir smashed 22 sixes and hit 7 fours to record the biggest ever score in the three editions of MCL. Yasir was awarded best player of 2nd edition of MCL last year.
Bahadar skipper won the toss and elected to bat first by piling up a huge margin of score 212, so far the biggest one.
For Sultan Shehzad Ahmad got two wickets for 16 runs in his three overs spell. In reply, Sultan bundled out for 68 runs in which Shehzad Ahmad was the high runs taker with 14 runs, none of the other batsmen could cross the double figures. Rizwan claimed three wickets, Naveed got two wickets while Niaz got one wicket. Thus Bahadur won the match by 144 runs. Yasir was declared as Man of the Match.
Earlier, in the first match of the day, star-batsman Kashif Aziz elegant knock of 49 runs guided Zalmi to a vital nine runs victory against Markhoor in the ongoing 3rd RMI Media Cricket League being played here at Govt Hasnain Shaheed Higher Secondary School No. 1 ground on Wednesday.
Zalmi skipper won the toss and decided to bat first by setting up 114 runs despite the top order tumbling but thanks to Kashif Aziz who stood up firmly by facing each of the rival bowlers and made a cracking knock of 49 runs including five graceful boundaries.
He was unlucky, missing his half-century by a run but overall he played with determination and guided the team to setup a good total of 114 runs for the loss of six wickets in the allotted 10 overs. Besides Kashif vital knock, Abdul Saboor Khattak (19) and Hammad Shehzad scored 17 runs. Fida Adeel made another 10 runs not out. For Markhoor Nasir Bukhari claimed three wickets, Riaz Shahid got two wickets.
In reply, to 114 runs target, Markhoor bundled out for 105 runs with Abbas Ali smashed a super 40 runs including five boundaries and one six, skipper Shakeel Siddique made 25 runs, Riaz Shahid scored 10 runs. Abdul Saboor Khattak grabbed three wickets, two on consecutive ball and succeeded in turning the whole complexion of the match. Hammad Shehzad, Fida Adeel got two wickets each while Kashif got one wicket. Thus Kashif and Abdul Saboor were jointly declared as Man of the Match for their key role in steering team to victory.
