Kamran, Zia shine as NBP reach Gold Cup final

KARACHI: Skipper Kamran Akmal and young fast bowler Zia-ul-Haq performed well to put National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in the final as they overwhelmed Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) by 48 runs in the second semi-final of the President’s Gold Cup One-day here at National Stadium on Friday.
Kamran smashed 90 off 75 balls to guide NBP to 340-5 in the stipulated 50 overs. Zia-ul-Haq then picked 4-61 to dismiss KRL for 292.
After being invited to bat, Kamran led his side by example as he batted with great authority to enable the bankers to pile up a big total.
Nasir Jamshed (32) and left-hander Sami Aslam (59) scored 76 runs from 90 balls for the opening stand.
Kamran added 50 runs for the second wicket with young Sami, who hammered six fours from 62 deliveries.
The Test stumper added 97 runs from 95 balls for the third wicket with Fawad Alam (68) before he himself got out when he edged left-arm Test pacer Rahat Ali to keeper Zulfiqar Jan. Kamran struck 11 fours in his fluent innings.
Fawad and Mohammad Nawaz (38) further consolidated the innings by adding 72 from 52 balls for the fourth wicket before left-arm pacer Sadaf Hussain dismissed both off two successive balls to reduce NBP to 295-5 in 46.4 overs.
Fawad, who was caught by Zain Abbas, smacked seven fours in his solid 62-ball feat.
Nawaz banged four boundaries in his fiery 32-ball contribution.
Test cricketer Qaiser Abbas (33*) and Umar Waheed (11*) went after the bowling, plundering 45 runs off the last 20 deliveries.
Qaiser smashed five fours from just 15 balls, while Waheed smacked one four from six deliveries.
Sadaf was the pick of the bowlers with 2-60, taking his wicket-tally to 21 in the event. Rahat Ali (1-86), spinner Nouman Ali (1-60) and Mohammad Yasin (1-36) were also among the wickets.
In reply, debutant left-hander Imam-ul-Haq (89) and Mohammad Yasin (23) gave a solid 39-ball 41 runs start to KRL. The latter was caught at mid-on by Raza Hasan off the bowling of Zia-ul-Haq. The left-handed Yasin, who was dropped by Nasir Jamshed in the slip off Zia, struck five fours from 22 deliveries.
Imam added 39 off 49 balls for the second wicket with Zain Abbas (29) before left-arm spinner
Mohammad Asghar got rid of the latter. Zain hit four fours from 33 balls.
The 19-year-old Imam put on 105 off 109 balls for the third wicket with his skipper Saeed Anwar Junior (40).
Young Mohammad Asghar broke the partnership when he got the key wicket of Saeed Anwar. He trapped him lbw after the left-hander had hammered three fours from 49 deliveries. KRL were at that stage 185-3.
Soon after that Zia dislodged dangerous Imam and left-arm spinner Raza Hasan sent back Nouman Ali (2) to reduce KRL to 206-5 in 38 overs. Imam, who has played 10 first-class matches, smashed seven exquisite fours from 103 deliveries.
Shoaib Ahmed, who struck a fine 46-ball 48 with four fours, added 53 for the sixth wicket with Ali Khan (20), who struck one six from 15 balls before being bowled by Raza Hasan.
KRL lost their last four wickets for just 33 runs, getting all out in 49.2 overs.
Raza had figures of 3-51 and Asghar 2-65.
Mohammad Asif and Riazuddin supervised the match.
NBP will take on State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in the final at the same venue on Sunday.
The winners will be handed over a purse of Rs1 million, while the runners-up will get richer by Rs500,000.