Shan, Sohaib steer UBL to One-day Cup final

KARACHI: Test opener Shan Masood hit a solid 100 not out and Sohaib Maqsood blasted 89 to put United Bank Limited (UBL) in the final when they overwhelmed Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) by seven wickets in the first semi-final of the National One-day Cup for Departments here at NBP Sports Complex on Thursday.

The duo shared 139 for the third wicket stand to enable UBL to chase the 236-run target in 40.5 overs after losing three wickets in the process.In pursuit of an easy total on a pitch which was full of runs UBL lost Umar Siddiq (21) and Umar Akmal (12) in quick succession. However both Shan and Sohaib played valuable but contrasting innings to make their team home safely.

Sohaib, who survived twice, smacked ten fours and two sixes from 94 balls before being stumped by Saifullah Bangash off the bowling of Fawad Alam. Multan-born 30-year old hard-hitting batsman, who has played 26 One-day International, hit left-arm spinner Fawad Alam (1-44) for a huge straight six in the 33rd over. The ball sailed over the boundary wall before falling under the overhead bridge. Sohaib’s third fifty in the event came off 49 balls.

Shan, on the other hand, played a watchful knock, banging 13 fours from 101-ball unfinished knock. This was the third century from Shan in this event which took his personal tally to 573 at the summit. In List A cricket it was the seventh hundred from the player who has played 12 tests for Pakistan from October 2013 to October 2017.

Left-handed batsman Saad Ali (13*) hit a glorious four off off-spinner Adil Amin to bring in a convincing victory for Younis Khan-led side. This was the eighth straight win for UBL in the event so far. Earlier Umar Siddiq got run out as a result of a big mix-up while speedster Ahmed Jamal (1-54) bowled Umar Akmal with a slower one. SSGC started their bowling proceedings through off-spinner Adil Amin (0-26) in place of Ahmed Jamal that did not work.

After being invited to bat, SSGC’s top order did well before facing a collapse and were folded for only 235 in 49.1 overs. Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza (2-55) provided an early breakthrough to UBL by sending Umar Amin (0) in his second over. However at this stage test opener Sami Aslam (57) and Awais Zia (48) added 88 runs for the second wicket association to build the innings. After the partnership was broken when Sami got run out SSGC kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were unable to even play a complete quota of 50 overs.

Sami hit nine fours from 63 balls. Awais struck five fours and one six from 61 deliveries. Asif Zakir chipped in with 58-ball 41 which contained two sixes and a couple of fours.Adil Amin made a 26-ball 21 with one six and one four. Besides Mir Hamza, Sameen Gul (2-41), spinner Mohammad Asghar (2-34) and young off-spinner from Karachi Ashiq Ali also got two wickets each.On Friday (today) Wapda face Pakistan Television in the second semifinal to be held at the same venue.