Omar Associates capture National Seniors Cup crown

KARACHI: Omar Associates from Karachi clinched the 20th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2018-19, organised by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), when they prevailed over Amar Cables of Lahore by four wickets in the National final, held at Shah Faisal Cricket Ground, Lahore on Sunday.

Khalid Mahmood, former Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony. He presented a cash prize of Rs150,000 along with the winners’ trophy to Jaffer Qureshi, skipper of Omar Associates.

Amar Cables captain, Waqas Ahmed, collected the runners-up trophy with a purse of Rs75,000. The tournament was contested by a total of 107 teams. Fawad Ijaz Khan, Chairman, PVCA, and Intikhab Alam, former Test captain, were also present on the occasion.

As expected the national final, contested by the southern region champions, Omar Associates, and the northern region champions, Amar Cables, turned out to be a keenly contested affair. Put in to bat, Amar Cables scored 203 for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 25 overs. Omar Associates overcame an uncertain start to chase down the target successfully with just two deliveries remaining. Nadeem Shaikh’s decisive, unbeaten 38 off 21 balls earned him Man of the Match award.

The decision of Omar Associates to insert the opponents, after calling correctly, paid dividends as the home side lost three wickets before reaching 50. It was Farhan Asghar’s brilliant, unbeaten 81 off 60 balls which lifted Amar Cables as he clobbered one six and nine fours.

Shahzad Butt’s cameo in the death overs took the total past 200. He hammered a six and four fours in his 30 off 18 balls as Amar Cables reached a respectable score of 203. Left-arm medium-pacer Kashif Pervez (3-30) was the pick of the Omar Associates’ bowlers.

Amar Cables got into the driving seat by dismissing both the openers, Jaffer Qureshi and Sajid Ali, early and they still had the game in control when Omar Associates lost their fourth wicket on 70.

Azhar Khan’s counter-attacking 61 off 37 balls, containing three sixes and six fours, brought Omar Associates back in the game and then Nadeem Shaikh finished it off with a breezy 38. Afsar Nawaz also contributed an invaluable 32 off 22 balls to help the Karachi outfit overhaul the stiff target.