Lahore Lions outshine Karachi in final to clinch National Veterans (Over 50) Cup 2024

Pakistan News & Features Services

Lahore Lions clinched the 8th National Veterans (Over 50) Cup 2024 Cricket Tournament as they outwitted Karachi by 102 runs in the final at Shah Faisal Ground, Lahore, on September 29. The event was organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA). 

Lahore Lions and Karachi had advanced to the final after having emerged the champions in their respective groups at the end of the league rounds. Lahore Panthers, Multan Whites, Sialkot, Gujrat, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were the other six participating teams in the tournament whose matches were played at Lahore and Sialkot. 

The Karachi skipper, Fawad Barry, chose to field first after winning the toss in the final. After seeing off the seamers, the home side batted solidly against the spinners. The opening pair of Khalid Saleem (53 off 52 balls) and Mohsin Aftab (23 off 27 balls) picked up the rate of scoring while adding 83 for first wicket in 12.3 overs. 

The momentum was sustained by Jamshed Ali (54 off 51 balls) and Imtiaz Tarar (31 off 47 balls) and the late flourish was provided by Afzal Shah (37 off 24 balls) and Javed Hafeez (32 off 22 balls) lifted the total to an imposing 273 for seven in the allotted 40 overs. Left-arm spinner Jaffer Qureshi (3-50) and off-spinner Asif Mughal (2-37) were the pick of the Karachi bowlers. 

Set a daunting target of 274 to lift the trophy, Karachi lost wickets upfront and fell behind the clock. Having slumped to 52 for five in the 12th over, they showed some fight through middle-order batsmen, Ahmed Hayat (37 off 42 balls), Rizwan Qureshi (29 off 32 balls), Asif Siddiqui (22 off 31 balls) and Jaffer Qureshi (21 off 39 balls). 

The spin trio of Jamshed Ali (2-4), Nadeem Boota (2-20) and Javed Hafeez (2-22) bowled Karachi out for 171 in 36.4 overs to ensure a coming victory for Lahore Lions. 

Amer Ilyas Butt, Chief Executive Officer, PVCA, was the guest of honour in the presentation ceremony, held at the ground soon after conclusion of the final. He gave away the trophies as well as the individual prizes to the outstanding performers of the event. 

The winners’ trophy was collected by the Lahore Lions captain, Mohsin Aftab, while the runners-up trophy was awarded to the Karachi skipper, Fawad Barry. Jamshed Ali of Lahore Lions was declared Man of the Match of the final.

The organizers were lauded for doing a great job which ensured a full game in the final, which had looked unlikely after the heavy rains a couple of days ago which washed out both the last round matches in Lahore.