BELLIGERENT HABIB BANK CRUISE TO EASY 8- WICKET VICTORY

All these batsmen played with perfect command and authority, not allowing to bowlers to make any mark on them, despite the fact that the wicket has a fair amount of turn in it.

Saleem Elahi and Taufeeq Umer started in a hostile manner. Helped by three wides by Sami, they collected 14 runs in the first over, which also included a hallmark cut to deep point by Elahi.

Sami and Shabbir bowled a few tidy overs after that, but failing to find a breakthrough they only assisted the batsmen in settling down. Elahi was soon to show his belligerence, as he smashed Sami for four boundaries in the 5th over, the first three, of which went between the two fielders posted at gully.

The next over saw Habib Bank racing to their fifty, in just 5.2 overs, after Taufeeq helped himself with two consecutive boundaries off the first two deliveries from Shabbir. He got one more boundary, a classic off drive, off Sami’s next over taking the score to 63 by the 7th over.

However, it was more or less Elahi after that as he compiled boundaries at perfect ease. The right-hander reached his half-century, his fourth consecutive score over 50 in this tournament, off only 40 balls, which contained 9 beautiful boundaries.

It was not long after that when the Bankers acquired the hundred of the innings in the 15th over, as Saleem found two more boundaries in one over from Imran Javed.

However, the next over saw a slight reversal of fortunes. Mushtaq Ahmed, the skipper, struck twice in just his second over, 16th overall, when he first had the aggressive Elahi (61 off 53, 12 fours) caught at point by Naumanullah. He then tested the new comer Imran Farhat with a perfect leg break and found the left-hander missing the line of the ball to be adjudged lbw for naught. Younis Khan came in next and avoided a possible hat trick by fending the ball to the off.

Younis hit his first boundary in the very next over, by Imran Javed, followed by another one off Mushi, a perfect sweep that went very fine to the leg side.

Taufeeq, meanwhile, kept his cool, finding runs to all corners of the park. He got to his fifty off 62 balls, after driving Mushtaq through covers for his sixth four. This shot was followed by a six over the head of the bowler.

The little leggie conceded 15 runs in his next over, including two fours and a six by Younis, the scoreboard showing 162 in only 24 overs.

The remaining 31 runs were reached in around five more overs, as Younis and Taufeeq unleashed a flurry of fours and sixes, taking Habib Bank to a comprehensive victory inside 30 overs.

Taufeeq remained not out on 71 (84 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) and Younis Khan made an aggressive unbeaten 51 (38 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) to ease their side’s way to victory.

HABIB BANK DO WELL TO RESTRICT OPPOSITION TO A MANAGEABLE TOTAL

With the wicket taking considerable turn, a target of 193 in 49 overs can prove quite a task for Habib Bank, considering that they have to face the likes of Mushtaq Ahmed in the spin department and the pace men like Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed.

It was naturally a slow going for NBP, after losing six wickets for just 100 on the board. Mohammad Javed played very cautiously after getting a chance when he was on 17. Sajid Shah, operating in his second spell from the Pavilion End, produced a perfect yorker, shattering the stumps of Javed. However, it was signaled a no ball by the umpire.

Javed went on to add 86 along with his skipper Mushtaq, as the two relied mainly on ones and twos initially. However, once settled in, they found some boundaries as well to boost the scoring rate up.

NBP reached got to the 150 of the innings in the 39th over. The next over saw Mushtaq hitting the rival captain for 11 runs, including a huge six over long on, followed by a four to fine leg.

The little leggie went on to hit two more boundaries before holing out Younis Khan straight to long off where Taufeeq Umer held a good catch. He made a fine 32 off 43 balls.

Javed lasted one more over after that. He was unlucky to miss his fifty by just one run, as he was caught by Abdul Rehman off Younis Khan after facing 96 balls.

NBP innings was closed after the 49th over with the scoreboard showing 192 for 9.

Kabir Khan was the most successful bowler for Habib Bank, taking 3 for 38 in 10 overs. The left-armer Abdul Rehman grabbed 2 for 23, whereas Sajid Shah took three for 44. Younis Khan bagged two wickets for 26.

HABIB BANK PACERS PUT NATIONAL BANK INTO TROUBLE

The pace attack of Habib Bank, led by the left-hander Kabir Khan, bowled magnificently, allowing little liberty to the batsmen, who went for their shots without quite settling in. The result was that they lost wickets at regular intervals.

Kabir struck in the first over, having Qaisar Abbas caught in the second slip by Imran Farhat for naught. This was followed by the wicket of Shahid Anwar, who was taken by the wicket keeper off the bowling of right-hander Sajid Shah, reducing them to 2 for 2 in the second over.

Naumanullah batted cautiously during his 19-ball innings before being caught by Younis Khan at gully off Sajid. The right-handed Naumanullah scored just one run.

Imran Nazir was in an attacking mood right from the start and apparently unperturbed by the fall of wickets at the other end, he went for wild swings in the opening overs. However, the moment he began connecting the ball, the hell just broke lose on the bowlers, as they found it hard to stop the barrage of runs.

The stylish right-hander hit his first boundary in the third over, bowled by Kabir Khan. This was followed by a heave over mid wicket for the first six of the morning. He went on to hit one more six and five more boundaries, before falling victim to his hallmark pull shot, as Ijaz Ahmed made no mistake in taking an easy catch at mid wicket. Imran made 46 off 24 balls.

Kabir Khan, bowling his 6th continuous over from the Pavilion end, struck for the third time, when he trapped Akhtar Sarfraz outside the off stump. The left-hander failed to avoid a perfect leg cutter, which took the edge of the bat and flew to Tahir Rasheed behind the stumps.

National Bank reached their hundred in the 25th over, followed, however, by the fall of another wicket, when Abdul Rehman trapped Imran Javed lbw for 21 (53 balls).

The remaining NBP batsmen now face an uphill task of putting a respectable total on the board. However, the likes of Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Javed have perfect ability to score some quick runs in the final over, provided they don’t lose their wickets in the carefree manner of earlier batsmen.

HABIB BANK WIN THE TOSS AND ELECT TO FIELD FIRST

National Bank, on the other hand, has the leggie Mushtaq Ahmed, who is leading the side and the left-armer Qaisar Abbas.

The Sheikhupura Stadium, as always, looks brilliant under the blazing late April sun. The outfield is lush green, with a few patches of brown strewn here and there.

The PCB Chairman, General Tauqeer Zia, is the chief guest on the occasion. The resultant increased security is certain to deter the handful of fans gathered around the ground, of which the majority is schoolboys.

© CricInfo

Date-stamped : 27 Apr2001 - 18:29