Omar Associates in Naya Nazimabad Cup quarter-finals

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

May 27, 2018

KARACHI: Omar Associates stormed into the quarter-finals of Naya Nazimabad Ramadan Cup Twenty20 as they overwhelmed National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) by 40 runs in their Group B encounter here at Hussain Lawai Stadium late on Friday night.

The duo of Sami-ur-Rahman and Asif Ali were the outstanding performers of the night for the star-studded Omar Associates outfit.

The duo was declared joint winner of the Man of the Match award.

Batting first after winning the toss, Omar Associates recovered from an uncertain start as they posted a fighting total of 148 for of seven after being 57 for four at one stage.

The bankers were on top after dismissing Usman Khan, Danish Aziz, Saad Naseem and Khushdil Shah in quick succession. Bilal Asif took two of these wickets, including that of skipper Saad Naseem for a duck.

Sami batted solidly under pressure and he was supported by Anwar Ali with whom he added 42 for the fifth wicket. He accelerated in the later part of his innings, belting four towering sixes and two fours in his 61 off 49 balls. Ashiq Ali hit an unbeaten 17 off 10 balls to take Omar Associates close to 150-run mark.

Veteran Test left-arm spinner Abdur Rahman captured three for 21 for NBP. Raza Hasan also took two wickets.

NBP crashed to 108 all out in 16.1 overs. Rameez Raja made 29 off 24 balls with a six and two fours, while Saad Khan hoisted a brace of sixes and hit one four in his 26 off 21 balls.

In a dramatic collapse, NBP lost their last four wickets for mere two runs.

After the tall speedster Muhammad Irfan (2-10) had removed both the openers, the spin duo of Asif Ali (3-17) and Ashiq Ali (2-17) sliced through the middle-order to engineer a comfortable victory for Omar Associates.

Former Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) president Prof Ejaz Ahmed Farooqui was the chief guest at the presentation ceremony which was also attended by Nadeem Omar, president-elect of KCCA, Arif Habib, Arif Habib Group chairman, and Samad Habib, Javedan Corporation CEO.