KARACHI: Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali scored fine fifties as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) overwhelmed United Bank Limited (UBL) by six wickets to retain the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on the penultimate day of the five-day final here at National Stadium on Wednesday.
This is the fourth successive title win for SNGPL and fifth overall.
SNGPL raced to the 160-run target in 52.2 overs for the loss of four wickets after resuming their second innings at 56-3.
In the daylight, the pink ball did not produce any trouble for the batsmen and both Misbah and Azhar played well to enable their team to capture another crown.
They added 110 runs for the fourth wicket. Test pacer Ehsan Adil (1-55) got rid of Azhar (56), caught by wicketkeeper Gulraiz Sadaf.
Azhar, who was batting on 17 when bails were drawn on Tuesday, smashed seven fours from 124 deliveries.
Umar Akmal (1*) then joined Misbah and both were able to take their team home without any further loss.
Tea break was skipped as SNGPL required only nine runs to win. Misbah hit a reverse sweep off left-arm spinner Yasim Murtaza and swept him towards fine-leg for three runs to take his side home.
Misbah was lucky to survive when, on 53, he was caught by Rumman Raees at mid-off off a ball from Ehsan Adil in the same over in which he got the wicket of Azhar. The decision was referred to the third umpire and the replay showed that Ehsan had bowled a no-ball.
Misbah, who had hit 85 in the first innings, smashed seven fours and a straight six off Hammad Azam in his patient 96-ball unfinished feat.
UBL scored 208 and 189. SNGPL posted 238 in their first innings. The winners were handed over a trophy and a purse of Rs2.5 million. The runners-up received Rs1.5 million.
Besides, Rs50,000 each was handed to Bilawal Bhatti (SNGPL, man-of-the-match), Asif Zakir (SSGC, 791 runs, best batsman), medium fast bowler Mohammad Abbas (KRL, 61 wickets) and Ehsan Adil (UBL, best all-rounder, 47 wickets, 228 runs).
SNGPL dedicated the fantastic win to their experienced left-handed batsman Ali Waqas, who missed the whole season because of fitness problem.
SNGPL captain credited his whole brigade for excellent performance in the season. “We have played just a few games. The credit goes to the remaining players who played with commitment,” Misbah said in a post-match talk. “We had a simple plan — to play disciplined cricket — and we executed that,” the 41-year-old Misbah said.
“It was difficult to play under lights and we had to play three times in such condition,” the skipper said.
He lauded Bilawal Bhatti’s performance. “Bilawal’s spell was a game-changer,” said Misbah, who holds the world record for the fastest century in Tests.
Bilawal produced his career-best figures of 8-56 on Tuesday to dismiss UBL for 189 in their second innings.
UBL skipper Younis Khan said that they should have scored 100 more runs in their first innings. “After we opted to bat first, we had 70 plus when we lost our first wicket. But we did not carry it on. I feel we should have scored 100 more runs in that innings,” Younis said.
“The players like us should play positively in every condition. I did try but lagged a little bit behind,” said Younis, who hit 97 in his team’s second innings. “Some people complained but I enjoyed playing with the pink ball,” Younis said.
As many as 16 teams featured in the event which started on October 26.
Port Qasim Authority (PQA) and Hyderabad have been relegated to the second-tier slots.
Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan graced the closing ceremony. Also present were former Test cricketer and adviser to PCB chairman Salahuddin Sallu and Karachi City Cricket Association’s (KCCA) president Prof Ijaz Farooqui.
Score Board
UBL won toss
UBL 1st innings 208 all-out (Sharjeel Khan 73; Bilawal 3-39)
SNGPL 1st innings 238 all-out (Misbah 85; Ehsan 4-39)
UBL 2nd innings 189 all-out (Younis 98; Bilawal 8-56)
SNGPL 2nd innings
M Hafeez b Mir 17
Taufeeq Umar c Gulraiz b Rumman 18
Hussain Talat b Rumman 0
Azhar Ali c Gulraiz b Ehsan 56
*Misbah-ul-Haq not out 60
Umar Akmal not out 1
Extras (lb 4, nb 4) 8
Total (4 wickets; 52.2 overs) 160
Did not bat: Asad Ali, Bilawal Bhatti, Azizullah, Imran Khalid, †M Rizwan
Fall: 1-33, 2-33, 3-41, 4-151
Bowling: Ehsan 14-2-55-1 (3nb); Rumman 11-3-30-2 (1nb); Mir 12-4-28-1; Yasim 10.2-2-25-0; Hammad 5-0-18-0
Result: SNGPL won by 6 wickets
Series: SNGPL won the 2015/16 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy
Man of the Match: Bilawal Bhatti (SNGPL)
Umpires: Ahmed Shahab and Ahsan Raza. Match referee: Anwar Khan. Reserve umpire: Imtiaz Iqbal