Hamza’s heroics send ZTBL into final

ISLAMABAD: The all-round heroics of Hamza Nadeem took ZTBL into the final of Patron’s Trophy Grade II following a draw against State Bank (SBP) here at the Diamond Ground Thursday.

Hamza (53 and 51 not out and 3-50 and 2-44) took the ground when ZTBL were in all sorts of trouble in the second innings after taking 35 runs lead in the first.ZTBL were 110-8 and it looked like that State Bank would go on to chase a possible 150 around target when Hamza stood up and took the attack back to State Bank bowlers. He ensured 192 all out for ZTBL, standing tall at 51 not out with the help of two sixes and five fours.

His innings not only set a stiff 228-run winning target for State Bank, it also consumed crucial time that ultimately helped ZTBL settle for draw and a place in the final of the tournament.

Taj Wali (5-45) bowled well for State Bank.

State Bank managed 112-6 with Hamza bowling well to take 2-44. Another speedster Nasim Shah (2-9) also bowled quick for his two wickets.

ZTBL will now play Ghani Glass in the final of Patron’s Trophy Grade II and for a place in the first-class cricket next year. Ghani Glass made it to the final after edging out KPT on the basis of first innings lead at Pindi Stadium.

The final will be played at the Pindi Stadium from April 21-24. The champions will get richer by Rs500,000 along with promotion to first-class cricket next season. The runners-up will pocket Rs250,000.

Scores in brief: Semi-finals: At Diamond Ground, Islamabad: ZTBL 218 all out in 60.1 overs (Saad Nasim 70, Hamza Nadeem 53, Usman Ashraf 29; Nazar Hussain 4-21, Umaid Asif 3-60, Taj Wali 2-56) and 192 all out in 72 overs (Hamza Nadeem 51 not out, Saadullah Ghauri 27, Mohsin Nadeem 26; Taj Wali 5-45, Nazar Hussain 3-59). State Bank 183 all out in 37.2 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 55, Rizwan Hussain 52, Mukhtar Ahmed 30; Muhammad Ali 4-72, Hamza Nadeem 3-50) and 112-6 in 18 overs (Rizwan Hussain 31, Umar Waheed 28; Naseem Shah 2-9, Hamza Nadeem 2-44, Muhammad Ali 2-59). Result: Match drawn.

At Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi: Ghani Glass 241 all out in 80.1 overs (Muhammad Zaheer 81, Tayyab Tahir 50, Ali Usman 29; Husban Javed 5-69, Rashid Hanif 2-58, Babar Rehman 2-64) and 219-4 in 64 overs (Tayyab Tahir 62, Husnain Bukhari 41 not out, Moeez Ghani 35, Muhammad Waheed 28 not out; Khalid Mahmood 2-56). KPT 224 all out in 63.1 overs (Nadeem Javed 115 not out, Taimur Ali 25; Muhammad Umar 6-85, Saifur Rehman 3-63). Result: Match drawn.