WAPDA down Hawks to win Silver Cup

KARACHI: Debutant Mohammad Irfan and veteran Aamer Sajjad shone to enable WAPDA to win the title as they outclassed Hyderabad Hawks by eight wickets in the final of the President’s Silver Cup One-day 2014-15 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday.
The 17-year old paceman Irfan produced magical figures of 4-12 in ten overs to dismiss Hyderabad Hawks for a paltry total of 117.
Aamer then slammed unbeaten 65 off 67 deliveries as WAPDA achieved the 118-run target in 27.3 overs after losing only two wickets in the process.
Sajjad hit off-spinner Nasir Awais for a glorious four to bring the victory.
Chasing an easy target, WAPDA had a poor start when pacer Mir Ali got rid of Mohammad Fayyaz (10) and Iftikhar Ahmad (8) in two consecutive overs to leave them struggling at 23-2 in 4.2 overs.
Fayyaz, who edged Mir to stumper Mohammad Awais, hit two fours from 11 balls. Iftikhar was trapped lbw after he had hit one four from 14 balls.
However, at this stage, Aamer Sajjad and left-handed Ayaz Tasawwar (32*) kept their cool and added 98 runs for the third wicket unbroken stand to see their team comfortably home.
Aamer, who had hit a glorious unbeaten 92 in WAPDA’s much-needed win against Faisalabad Wolves on Friday, hit Nasir Awais for a six to reach his fifty from 59 balls.
Sajjad smashed nine fours and a six in his fine feat.
Ayaz, on the other hand, cracked two fours from 73 deliveries.
Mir Ali was the pick of the bowlers with 2-19 in six overs. Babar Khan (0-42), debutant Asif Mehmood (0-24) and Nasir Awais (0-35) were the others who bowled.
Earlier, after being invited to bat first, Hyderabad Hawks had a reckless day with the bat due to excellent bowling from Sialkot boy Irfan, who has played three first-class games.
At one stage Hawks were 31-5 in 16.5 overs. However, Mohammad Awais (32) and left-hander Lal Kumar (24) made some recovery before Lal got retired hurt to add to the misery of Hawks.
It was Irfan who got rid of Awais after he had hit four fours in his patient 70-ball knock.
Lal, who got retired hurt on 13, although, came to bat after Hawks were reduced to 87-8. But he fell soon, caught by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan off left-arm spinner Khalid Usman after the all-rounder had smashed two fours from 60 deliveries.
Babar Khan remained not out on 30-ball 15 with two fours as Hawks were folded in 43.5 overs.
Besides, Irfan — who broke the back of Hawks’ innings within no time — skipper Rana Naved-ul-Hasan also bowled well, picking 2-26 from 7.5 overs.
Left-arm pacer Waqas Maqsood captured 2-34 from ten overs. Left-arm international spinner Zulfiqar Babar claimed 1-20 from eight overs.
Ahmad Shahab and Ahsan Raza supervised the match, while Shozab Raza was the third umpire. Aziz-ur-Rehman acted as match-referee and Qaiser Waheed served as reserve umpire.
Mohammad Irfan was declared man-of-the-final.
The winners WAPDA were handed over a purse of Rs500,000, while the runners-up Hawks got richer by Rs250,000.
Similarly, Rs50,000 each was handed over to Faisal Athar (Hyderabad Hawks, best batsman, 446 runs), Zulfiqar Babar (WAPDA, best bowler, 14 wickets), Fahim Ashraf (Faisalabad Wolves, outstanding cricketer, 132 runs, 10 wickets, 4 catches) and Mohammad Irfan (WAPDA, player of the final).
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan distributed the prizes. PCB Director Domestics Intikhab Alam was also present on the occasion.