Quetta, Multan win in T20 Blind Cricket Trophy

KARACHI: A brilliant knock by Naimatullah helped Quetta beat Sheikhupura by a huge margin of 225 runs. Quetta scored a massive 347 for 2 in their allotted 20 overs with Naimatullah scoring a blistering 154 from just 65 balls consisting of 14 boundaries. Naseebullah scored an unbeaten 89.

In reply, Sheikhupura were bowled out for just 122. Abdul Sattar was top scorer with 29 runs. Qaisar Ali and Abdul Saleem grabbed 2 wickets each. Naimatullah was named man of the match.

In another match Abbottabad beat Hyderabad at Afza Cricket Ground. After winning the toss Hyderabad posted 173 for 8 with Amjad Hussain playing a captain’s innings of 95 studded with ten boundaries and Ubaidullah scoring 30. Muhammad Adeel took 3 for 22 and Naeemullah got two wickets.

Abbottabad chased the target with ease in just 9.4 overs. Naeemullah with his 76 not out was the highest scorer and Muhammad Adeel’s 36 runs took their team to the victory. Naeemullah was adjudged man of the match.

In the third match, Multan outclassed Faisalabad by 66 runs while defending a formidable score of 269. Faisalabad’s decision to field first didn’t go in their favor as Muhammad Safdar of Multan hammered their bowlers with a fantastic 189 from mere 82 balls hitting 30 boundaries and a six. Ahsan Razzaq scored 49 runs.

Multan then restricted Faisalabad for 203 for the loss of 4 wickets. Ijaz Hussain scored 60 and Bilal Ali chipped with 47. Hafiz Abdul Razzaq got 2 for 33 in his 4 overs for Multan. Muhammad Safdar was given man of the match.

Last match was won by Karachi who beat Sargodha by nine wickets at Annu Bhai Cricket Ground. The match was reduced to 15 overs; Sargodha batting first made 167 for the loss of 6 wickets with Ahsan Ullah and captain Zaran Khan scoring 49 and 32 runs respectively.

Karachi easily chased down the target winning it by 9 wickets. Tahir Ali was the star of the match after his epic 98 runs knock featuring 15 boundaries and was also given player of the match.—Shiraz Asif

Faisalabad shock Lahore in Quaid Hockey final

LAHORE: Faisalabad stunned hosts Lahore 4-0 in the final of the inaugural Quaid-i-Azam Punjab Inter-division Hockey Championship here at the National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.

Earlier, Bahawalpur defeated Sargodha 1-0 to claim bronze medal.

In the final, Faisalabad players displayed highly impressive performance leaving no place for Lahore to stage a comeback. For Faisalabad Mohammad Usman scored a brace while Ghulam Mustafa and Mohammad Sajid added on goal apiece.

Lahore remained a bit unlucky as at least four of their attempts from close range failed to find the net.

Provincial Sports Minister Rai Taimur Khan Bhatti distributed the prizes. The minister said a similar event for women will also be organised in Lahore soon.

“Forty best players of this tournament will be picked for further training,” the minister added.—Sports Reporter

Negri, Parez excel at Aibak Cup

LAHORE: Two matches were decided on the opening day of historic Aibak Cup Polo here at the Lahore Polo Club ground on Tuesday.

A magnificent six-goal contribution from Ignarcio Negri helped Remounts draft a close 7-6½ victory against Colony Polo Team. Vieri Antinori struck the remaining goal for the winners.

From Colony Polo Team, which had a half-goal handicap, Francisco Bensadon and Jamie Le Hardy hammered a hat-trick each.

In the second match, Master Paints Black outclassed Diamond Paints 10-7½. Matias Vial Parez smashed five goals for the winners while Mariano Raigal converted a hat-trick and Ahmed Ali Tiwana hit a brace.

From Diamond Paints, which had a two and a half goal handicap, Ramiro Zaveletta and Saqib Khan Khakwani scored two goals apiece while Abdul Rehman Monnoo added one.—Sports Reporter

Soumya recalled for injured Shakib

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Tuesday recalled batsman Soumya Sarkar as a replacement for injured all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for the second and the final Test against the West Indies.

The second Test will start at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday.

Soumya, who has a hundred and four half centuries in 15 Tests, will join the squad’s training on Wednesday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said in a statement.

Shakib was ruled out of the upcoming match after picking up an injury during the first Test, which Bangladesh lost in Chittagong.

He was unable to bat and bowl in the second innings of the match, which ended on Sunday. His absence was felt massively when Bangladesh were unable to defend a large 394-run lead.

Kyle Mayers struck an unbeaten 210 as a weakened West Indies won the game by three wickets.—AFP

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2021