Sialkot sink Peshawar to pocket Quaid Trophy

KARACHI: Sialkot overpowered Peshawar by a solitary wicket in a thrilling final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QT) here Sunday at the UBL Sports Complex.

It was Sialkot’s third Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title. Sialkot did not lose a single match in the tournament with eight matches yielding five wins and three draws. On the day four of the five-day final, Chasing 173 to win, Sialkot were 59-5 in 15 overs at the beginning of day four.

They completed the chase in 46.2 overs with skipper Amad Butt starring with a match-winning half century and Shahzaib Bhatti (32 not out) hitting the winning runs, which came off a boundary.

Skipper Amad anchored the chase with poise as he notched 65 runs off 94 balls hitting nine fours and one six during his stay on the crease. After Sialkot lost wicketkeeper-batter Afzal Manzoor with 69-6, Amad partnered with Shahzaib for a crucial 48-run seventh wicket to take their team out of dire straits.

Sajid Khan castled Amad to bring Peshawar back to the game but Shahzaib stuck around to finish the game with 51-ball 32 inclusive of four boundaries. Shoaib Akhtar Jnr departed in the 46th over with one run required to win and one wicket left for Sialkot before they sealed the game in next over.

For Peshawar, Niaz Khan took four wickets while Mohammad Amir Khan returned with figures of 3-60. Israrullah and Sajid Khan dismissed one batter each.

Player of the match: Amad Butt (Sialkot) -- 4-51 and 2-66 and scored 10 and 65.

Best batter of the tournament: Azan Awais (Sialkot) -- 844 runs in eight matches.

Best bowler of the tournament: Musa Khan (Islamabad) -- 38 wickets in five matches.

Best wicketkeeper of the tournament: Afzal Manzoor (Sialkot) -- 39 dismissals in eight matches.