News by “Sana Ullah“
On 11th February 2024, a remarkable century by Bilawal Bhatti and an outstanding performance of nine wickets in the match by Shahnawaz Dahani propelled SNGPL to a commanding 519-run win over WAPDA in the final of the President’s Trophy Grade-I held at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.
The match concluded on the third day of the five-day final. SNGPL not only clinched the trophy but also claimed the prize money of PKR three million. Meanwhile, WAPDA had to settle for the runners-up trophy along with the prize money of PKR 1.5 million.
In their second innings, SNGPL, resuming at the overnight score of 121 for five in 36 overs, declared their innings at 346 for eight in 82 overs. This declaration came on the back of a century by Bilawal Bhatti (101, 114b, 14x4s, 2x6s) and a solid 91 from Mubasir Khan. The duo stitched a crucial 108-run partnership for the seventh wicket, with Mubasir’s innings comprising 14 fours and a six.
Asif Afridi emerged as the most successful bowler for WAPDA, claiming five wickets for 149 runs.
In response, chasing a daunting 686 to win, WAPDA faltered and were dismissed for 166 for nine in 32 overs. Ayaz Tasawar, batting at number six, top-scored for his side with a brisk 30-ball 51, smashing seven fours and three sixes. Notably, Umar Akmal, who scored 28 runs in the first innings, did not bat in the second innings due to illness.
Shahnawaz Dahani, the right-arm fast bowler who scalped seven wickets in the first innings, added two more to his tally in the second innings, finishing with match figures of 94 runs for nine wickets. Meanwhile, left-arm pacer Mir Hamza was the standout bowler in the second innings, claiming three wickets for 50 runs in nine overs.
Dahani and Sahibzada Farhan were jointly awarded the player of the match title. Additionally, Abdul Faseeh from KRL and Mohammad Rameez Jnr from Ghani Glass were declared the joint players of the tournament.
Summary of Scores:
SNGPL secured a resounding victory over WAPDA by 519 runs.
SNGPL: 479-7, 80 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 161, Saud Shakeel 123 not out, Kamran Ghulam 101, Mubasir Khan 44; Tahir Hussain 2-78, Iftikhar Ahmed 2-105) and 346-8 decl, 82 overs (Bilawal Bhatti 101, Mubasir Khan 91, Abid Ali 38, Saud Shakeel 34, Kamran Ghulam 28; Asif Afridi 5-149, Ali Shafique 2-53)
WAPDA: 140 all out, 34.4 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 52, Umar Akmal 28; Shahnawaz Dahani 7-42, Mir Hamza 2-30) and 166-9, 32 overs (Ayaz Tasawar 51, Umar Abid Kayani 40; Mir Hamza 3-50, Bilawal Bhatti 2-29, Shahnawaz Dahani 2-52)
Individual Awards:
Player of the Match – Shahnawaz Dahani and Sahibzada Farhan (SNGPL) – PKR 100,000
Player of the Tournament – Abdul Faseeh (KRL, 637 runs from six matches, 3x100s, 1×50) and Mohammad Rameez Jnr (Ghani Glass, 42 wickets from five matches, five five-wicket hauls) – PKR 100,000
Best Batter of the Tournament – Abdul Faseeh (KRL) – PKR 100,000
Best Bowler of the Tournament – Mohammad Rameez Jnr (Ghani Glass) – PKR 100,000
Best Wicket-Keeper of the Tournament – Shahbaz Javed (Ghani Glass, 26 dismissals) – PKR 100,000
