Diamond emerge Fazal cricket champs

ISLAMABAD: Diamond Club emerged as champions Islamabad Region in the PCB Fazal Mehmood National Inter-Club Cricket tournament Club on Tuesday.

Helped by four-wicket haul from off-spinner Arsal Shaikh, Diamond Club defeated Essco Club by 7 wickets in their last league match of tri-team series.Diamond Club thus won both the matches in the tri-team contest of the tournament. Now Diamond Club will participate in the Inter-Region Club Championship under the aegis of PCB in which champion clubs of 16 regions will vie be for the national champions honour.

In the earlier tri-team contest Diamond Club had defeated Asif Memorial Club. In Tuesday’s match, Essco Club who batted first, were bundled out for paltry 116 with Arsal Shaikh claiming 4 wickets for 33 runs. Young speedster Muhammad Arham took 3 for 34. Only Ali Salman resisted against quality bowling for his 32-run innings. Then an unbeaten 51 by opener Zohaib Qureshi enabled Diamond to achieve the target in just 14.2 overs. Muhammad Umair smashed 22 and Ali Nadim contributed 20. Ali Salman took two for 18 runs.

Scores: Essco Club 116 in 26.4 overs (Ali Salman 32, Syed Zeeshan Ali 21, Muhammad Naqash 20, Arsal Shaikh 4 for 33, Muhammad Raham 3 for 34,Hamza Nadim 2 for 16). Diamond Club 118 for 3 in 14.2 overs (Zohaib Qureshi 51*, Muhammad Umair 31, Ali Nadim 20, Ali Salman 2 for 16).

Meanwhile President Diamond Club Zubair Shaikh Aarshi congratulated skipper Zohaib Ahmed and entire team for their outstanding performance and emerging as champion-Club of Islamabad Region.