Bilal shines as Amar Cables crowned champions

KARACHI: Bilal Khilji’s unbeaten century guided Amar Cables to lift the Northern region crown of the 17th National Seniors Cup Cricket Tournament 2015 after they overcame Askari Greens by one wicket in the nail-biting final at the LCCA Ground in Lahore.

Batting first, Askari Greens posted a total of 170 for nine in the allotted 30 overs.

Raza Butt played the role of an anchor by striking four boundaries in his 41 off 33 balls. Maqsood Aslam smashed one six and two fours in his 38 off 51 balls.

Amar Cables’ off-spinner Shakeel Malik and leg-spinner Akbar Ali finished with the identical figures of two for 38 in six overs each.

Chasing the total, Amar Cables started off clinically till the wickets started tumbling.

The 78-run third-wicket partnership between Bilal and Jamshed Ali had put them in front, but a middle-order collapse made the contest even.

Bilal fought a lone battle to steer his side to victory in the last over.

He returned unconquered on 103 off 90 balls, hammering one six and 11 fours. Jamshed struck four boundaries in his 37 off 46 balls.

Askari Greens’ Tariq Shahzad claimed three wickets for 26 runs in six overs.

Amar Cables will now be taking on Karachi Gold Bridge Media, the Southern region champions, in the national final, scheduled to be held at the Naya Nazimabad Cricket Ground in Karachi on January 10.

The match will be telecast live on Geo Super.

A record number of 109 teams from all over the country participated in the annual tournament, organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), and sponsored by IMI Omar (Pvt) Ltd and Arif Habib Group.