Sabir guides Hyderabad Veterans to win

KARACHI: Sabir Qureshi’s fine all-round performance powered Hyderabad Veterans to a convincing seven-wicket victory over Sukkur Veterans in the 17th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2015 at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, on Friday.
Sabir Qureshi, who was declared Man of the Match, remained undefeated on 71 which helped Hyderabad Veterans reach the target of 136 with five overs to spare. Earlier, Sukkur Veterans were restricted to 135 for six in the allotted 25 overs.
Sukkur Veterans recovered through 65-run second wicket partnership between opener Khan Mohammad (27 off 29 balls) and Tariq Abbasi (37 off 38 balls) after having lost Abdul Qayyum for a duck.
Naeem Ghani (23 off 27 balls) also kept the scoreboard ticking but a middle-order collapse brought about by medium-pacer Abid Baloch (2-15) and off-spinner Sabir Qureshi (2-22) broke the back of the Sukkur Veterans batting and they could not force the pace in the death overs.
In reply, Hyderabad Veterans lost a couple of wickets early to be reduced to 16 for two before being rescued by a 112-run third wicket partnership between opener Sabir Qureshi and Shahid Ansari which sealed their win.
Shahid Ansari was dismissed after scoring 47 off 49 balls with the help of four boundaries but Sabir Qureshi returned unbeaten on 71 off 38 balls, hitting two sixes and 11 fours. Medium-pacer Khan Mohammad captured two wickets for Sukkur Veterans.