Rizwan, Junaid star in KP Fighters’ title win

KARACHI: Mohammad Rizwan hit a sparkling unbeaten hundred to enable Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Fighters to win Pentangular Cup One-day Tournament as they overwhelmed Balochistan Warriors by six wickets in the final at the National Stadium on Sunday.
Skipper Junaid Khan bowled lethally, producing his career-best figures of 5-45 from 10 overs to dismiss Balochistan Warriors for 238 in the allotted 50 overs.
Rizwan smashed an explosive 103 not out off 87 balls to help KP Fighters achieve the 239-run target with 18 balls to spare after losing four wickets.
After being invited to bat first, Balochistan Warriors found themselves in deep trouble when they lost four wickets for only 57 in 10.5 overs.
Sami Aslam (119) and Ayaz Tasawwar (24) added 64 runs for the fifth wicket to bring respectability to their total.
Ayaz, who was bowled by left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar, smashed two fours from 41 deliveries.
Sami, who survived twice, put on 56 runs for the ninth wicket with Ehsan Adil (23*) to take his side to a fighting total.
The 19-year-old Sami, around whom Warriors’ innings revolved, smacked 13 fours and a six in his 123-ball century — the second of his career. Junaid trapped Sami lbw with an in-swinging yorker.
Ehsan hammered one six and two fours from 30 deliveries.
Junaid and Mohammad Sami (1-59 from 10 overs) blew the top order, smartly exploiting the fresh pitch to put Warriors on the back foot.
Skipper Azhar Ali (21) was the first to get out, brilliantly caught by Test discard Sami off his own bowling.
Azhar, who ended the event at the top with 302 runs, hit three fours from 27 deliveries.
Junaid had Bismillah Khan (12) caught by Aadil Amin at mid-off to leave Warriors at 46-2.
In his next over, Junaid got rid of Sohaib Maqsood (1) and Usman Salahuddin (6) to leave Warriors tottering at 57-4.
Sohaib, who on Saturday propelled Warriors to final with a fiery 125, gloved a delivery from Junaid that pitched on the leg-stump to keeper Rizwan, who took a nice catch.
Usman was unlucky as the ball crashed the stumps going through his pads after kissing his bat.
Test leg-spinner Yasir Shah and Zafar Gohar ably supported their pace bowlers, which enabled Fighters to bowl out Warriors for 238 in 47 overs.
Yasir, who will represent Pakistan in the World Cup, bowled with tidy line, claiming 2-22 in 10 overs.
Left-arm spinner Zafar picked 2-52 from nine overs including the prized scalp of Ayaz.
KP Fighters lost opener Israrullah (8) when he tried to a pull a short-pitched delivery from left-arm pacer Zia-ul-Haq only to edge it to keeper Bismillah Khan. Mukhtar (27) and Adil Amin (58) had taken the score to 55 when left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti dislodged Mukhtar, caught excellently at long off by substitute fielder Ali Asad.
Rizwan stabilised the innings and added 71 for the third wicket with Adil before the latter was trapped lbw by Ehsan after he had smashed seven fours in his 88-ball fifty.
Rizwan put on 92 for the fourth wicket with left-hander Adnan Raees, who hit 37-ball 36 with five fours before being given stumped out off the bowling of Azhar Ali through referral.
Rizwan hit some super shots, dominating the 24-run stand for the fifth wicket with Zohaib Khan (3*) to bring in a fine title victory.
Rizwan hammered 11 fours and a six in the third hundred of his career.
Ehsan, Zia, Azhar and Kashif took one wicket each.
The winners KP Fighters were handed over a glittering trophy and Rs1 million, while the runners-up Balochistan Warriors received Rs500,000.
Similarly, Rs50,000 each was handed over to Junaid Khan (man of the final), Junaid Khan (best bowler, 11 wickets), Azhar Ali (best batsman, 302 runs, Warriors), Rizwan (outstanding cricketer).
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar M Khan gave away the trophies and distributed the prizes.