Yasir, Shoaib excel as PIA clinch one-day title

A super century by Yasir Hameed and fine bowling by off-spinner Shoaib Malik helped PIA lift the NBP One-day Patron's Cup with a comfortable 55-run victory over Wapda in the final at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday.

Chasing a formidable target of 274, Wapda failed to absorb the pressure of playing their first final and were able to muster only 218 for nine in the allotted 50 overs.

Wapda, though, began the chase promisingly as Tariq Aziz (31) and Adil Nisar (25) put on 46 for the opening partnership.

Shahid Mansoor batted solidly in the middle-order to contribute 60 off 84 deliveries with three boundaries before falling to slow left-armer Nadeem Khan, neatly stumped by brother Moin, the PIA skipper.

Shoaib gained some useful practice before he leaves for Sharjah on Tuesday morning for the four-nation tournament. Bowling to a tidy line and length, the spinner conceded just 24 runs in 10 overs, picking up in the process wickets of Tariq Aziz, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan (21), Farooq Iqbal (29) and Waqas Ahmed (5).

Nadeem Khan, in contrast, proved expensive as he gave away 60 runs in his 10 overs.

Earlier, PIA overcame the early loss of the in-form Moin to pile up a big total after winning the toss.

Moin, the former Pakistan captain, was caught behind for only six when he nibbled at an outswinger from pacemanNaveed-ul-Hasan.

The experienced Ghulam Ali hammered five fours and a brace of sixes on his way to a rapid 61 off 79 balls. He dominated the second-wicket stand of 84 with Yasir.

Yasir found another reliable partner in former Test batsman Asif Mujtaba. But Asif was unable to stay for long as he was unluckily run out while going for a second run.

Yasir, however, made amends by taking on the responsibility of anchoring the innings. Faisal Iqbal helped him add 76 runs in only 47minutes for the fourth wicket. Faisal went after making 32 off 41 balls when he played across the line to a good length delivery from medium-pacer Kashif Raza.

Yasir, who made a career-best 207 in the final of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy earlier in the season, completed a magnificent century with the aid of five hits to the ropes. He departed shortly after for a fine 102, which were scored off 122 balls.

Shoaib played a little cameo by blasting an unbeaten 25 off just seven deliveries. Naveed-ul-Hasan suffered most in the final over of the innings as 21 runs were scored from it. Shoaib lifted the first three balls for huge sixes. Kashif finished with three for 60.

PIA, who won their ninth one-day title, were presented with the winners' cash prize of Rs 100,000 and the crystal trophy by NBP president Syed Ali Raza, who graced the final as the chief guest.

Wapda skipper Zahid Umar received runners-up's cash prize ofRs 50,000.

Moin was also declared the best batsman of the tournament with an aggregate of 433 runs in eight matches. Shoaib Malik was adjudged the best bowler with 20 wickets. Habib Bank's Atiq-uz-Zaman with 12 catches and five stumpings was the declared the best wicket-keeper. Bazid Khan won the prize for being the best fielder with eight catches. All of them received were awarded Rs 10,000 each.

Yasir Hameed was a deserving recipient of the Man-of-the-Match award, which was worth Rs 10,000 in the final.

Scoreboard

PIA:

Ghulam Ali c Tariq b Aqeel 61

Moin Khan c Zahid b Naveed 6

Yasir Hameed b Kashif 102

Asif Mujtaba run out 27

Faisal Iqbal b Kashif 32

Bazid Khan c Shahid b Kashif 10

Shoaib Malik not out 25

Kamran Sajid c Shahid b Naveed 3

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-2, NB-3) 7

TOTAL (seven wkts, 50 overs) 273

FALL OF WKTS: 1-24, 2-108, 3-145, 4-221, 5-245, 6-246, 7-273.

DID NOT BAT: Nadeem Khan, Umar Gul, Fazle Akbar.

BOWLING: Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan 10-0-60-2; Waqas Ahmed 4.5-0-15-0; Ijaz Mahmood 5.1-0-29-0; Farooq Iqbal 10-0-52-0; Kashif Raza 10-0-60-3; Aqeel Ahmed 10-1-55-1.

WAPDA:

Tariq Aziz c Bazid b Shoaib 31

Adil Nisar lbw b Umar 25

Rizwan Malik c Bazid b Fazle 0

Shahid Mansoor st Moin b Nadeem 60

Zahid Umar run out 9

Ijaz Mahmood c Umar b Nadeem 20

Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan b Shoaib 21

Farooq Iqbal c Ghulam Ali b Shoaib 29

Waqas Ahmed c and b Shoaib 5

Kashif Raza not out 6

Aqeel Ahmed not out 3

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-4, NB-1) 9

TOTAL (for 9 wkts, 50 overs) 218

FALL OF WKTS: 1-46, 2-58, 3-66, 4-79, 5-120, 6-164, 7-185, 8-209, 9-209.

BOWLING: Umar Gul 10-1-41-1; Fazle Akbar 9-0-54-1; Asif Mujtaba 10-1-30-0; Shoaib Malik 10-2-24-4; Nadeem Khan 10-0-60-2; Kamran Sajid 1-0-5-0.

RESULT: PIA won by 55 runs.

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar and Nadeem Ghauri.

MATCH REFEREE: Azhar Khan.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Yasir Hameed