SSGC, Omar Associates beat visiting Canada Seniors

KARACHI: Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Omar Associates beat the Canada Seniors here at the Naya Nazimabad Stadium over the weekend.

According to the information made available by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA) here on Monday, SSGC defeated the Canadians by 26 runs in the first game. Omar Associates routed them by eight wickets at the same venue the following day.

Opening the innings, Athar Laeeq smashed eight sixes and 11 fours in his unbeaten 113 off 62 balls to enable SSGC to post 184 for five in the stipulated 20 overs with medium-pacer Raja Akram (2-36) being the most successful visiting bowler.

Canada Seniors got off to a flying start as openers Zulfiqar Khan (61 off 45 balls) and Kashif Mehar (31 off 20 balls) scored 85 for the first wicket. But the visitors lost the plot later and were restricted to 158 for five in 20 overs.

In the second game, the tourists were spun out for 138 by the Omar Associates spin duo of Yousuf Ahmed (4-19) and Rashid Hanif (3-23) with only opener Kashif Mehar (33 off 31 balls) and skipper Talal Iqbal (38 off 40 balls) offering some resistance.

Omar Associates strolled to the target of 139 in just 12.5 overs with fluent knocks from openers Sajid Ali (38 off 27 balls) and Nadeem Shaikh (36 off 26 balls). Leg-spinner Tariq Yousuf claimed two wickets in his only over.

The 15-member Canadian squad, comprising over-40 players, has arrived in Pakistan to play matches against various senior outfits in Karachi and Lahore.They are to take on Gold Bridge Media at Moin Khan Cricket Stadium, Factdate Engineering at NBP Sports Complex and Rashid Latif Veterans at UBL Stadium.

In Lahore the Canadians will be pitted against Lahore Gymkhana at Bagh-e-Jinnah Cricket Ground on February 18, Turk Plast at LCCA Cricket Ground on February 19, Amar Cables at Country Club Muridke Cricket Ground on February 21, and Punjab Veterans at LCCA Cricket Ground on February 22.