Sahir Associates emerge as President’s Trophy Grade-II champs

LAHORE: Sahir Associates romped to President’s Trophy Grade-II title with a thumping 355-run win over MIT Solutions on day four of the final at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium Abbottabad on Sunday afternoon.

The title winners remained unbeaten during their nine-match run in the tournament winning five and drawing four and will now feature in the President’s Trophy Grade-I – the departmental first-class tournament to be staged in the upcoming domestic cricket season.

MIT Solutions, who were set a mammoth target of 587 runs on the last day of the final in 75 overs, were dismissed for 231 in 37.2 overs with pacer Khan Zeb taking 5-73 in 9.5 overs. For the runners-up, only no.4 batter Muhammad Bilal (70) and Husnain Nadeem (54) offered some resistance with brisk half-centuries.

MIT Solutions slipped from 102-2 in 12.5 overs to 138-7 and then 231 all out. Earlier, Sahir Associates added 82 runs to their overnight score of 367-7 as they were bowled out for 449 in 90.5 overs with MIT’s Keleem Ullah picking up 5-83. Sahir’s Mohsin Khan ended up with 68 after staying unbeaten overnight for 16.

Scores in brief: Sahir Associates 272 all out in 66.2 overs (Muhammad Saleem 58, Ahmer Ashfaq 43, Mohsin Khan 34, Muhammad Kashif 27, Fahad Usman 26, Asim Ali Nasir 25; Raza Ullah 4-41, Shahab Khan 3-58) and 449 all out in 90.5 overs (Fahad Usman 158, Mohsin Khan 68, Ahmer Ashfaq 51, Muhammad Saleem 36, Khawaja Muhammad Abdullah 31, Asim Ali Nasir 26, Muhammad Kashif 23; Kaleem Ullah 5-83, Raza Ullah 2-128).

MIT Solutions 135 all out in 41.5 overs (Mohammad Tayyab 36 not out, Zain Ishaq 26, Muhammad Bilal 21; Shahid Ali 4-60, Mohsin Khan 2-4, Muhammad Bilawal 2-27, Khan Zeb 2-30) and 231 all out in 37.2 overs (Muhammad Bilal 70, Husnain Nadeem 54, Zain Ishaq 34; Khan Zeb 5-73). Player of the final: Fahad Usman (Sahir Associates). Other prize winners: Best batter of the tournament: Asim Ali Nasir (Sahir Associates 786 runs in 14 innings).