Pakistan News & Features Services
Lahore Lions, Lahore Panthers, Karachi and Sialkot triumphed over their respective opponents in the opening round matches of the 8th National Veterans (Over 50) Cup 2024 Cricket Tournament 2024, being organized by the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), on September 23.
Lahore Lions defeated Multan by 100 runs at Shah Faisal Ground, Lahore, Lahore Panthers whipped Balochistan by 247 runs at Cricket Centre Ground, Lahore, Karachi overpowered Khyber Pakhthunkhwa (KPK) by 222 runs at CA Gold Cricket Ground, Sialkot, and Sialkot outsmarted Gujrat by five wickets at Faraz Sports Ground, Sialkot.
Chasing a stiff target of 281, Multan lost wickets at regular intervals despite resistance offered by opener Raja Arshad, who scored 63 off 66 balls with the help of a six and 11 fours. Multan was bowled out for 180 in 39 overs with left-arm spinners Nadeem Boota (3-20) and Rehan Rauf (2-36) being the pick of the home bowlers.
Khurram Afzal’s stunning all-round performance powered Lahore Panthers to an incredible win over Balochistan. Coming in to bat at number seven, he whacked two sixes and 15 fours in his unbeaten 96 off 46 runs which propelled the Lahore Panthers total to 323 for seven in the stipulated 40 overs.
Opening the bowling, Khurram Afzal also snared a couple of top-order wickets and Balochistan could not recover from early shocks to be bundled out for 76 in 28.4 overs. Shakeel Ahmed (18 off 53 balls), Junaid Nainitalwala (13 off 19 balls) and Azizullah (11 off 17 balls) were the only batters to enter double figures as the innings was rocked by leg-spinner Rauf Wyne (4-16).
Muhammad Javed’s blazing century helped Karachi overwhelm KPK by 222 runs. The 132-run second wicket partnership between opener Irfan Ali Khan (76 off 46 balls) and Iqbal Shaikh (80 off 84 balls) laid the foundation for a mammoth total and Muhammad Javed rose to the occasion by hammering nine sixes and seven fours in his exhilarating knock of 113, coming from only 56 balls. Asif Khan made 40 off 30 balls as Karachi succeeded in installing a huge score of 360 for seven in the stipulated 40 overs.
The spin quartet of Asif Mughal (3-17), Jaffer Qureshi (3-32), Sharafat Hussain (2-23) and Rizwan Qureshi (2-27) sent KPK tumbling to 138 all out in 32.3 overs.
Sialkot performed brilliantly to outsmart Gujrat by five wickets. Electing to bat, Gujrat posted a total of 177 for eight in the allotted 40 overs with opener Aziz Baig holding the innings together with an unbeaten 101 off 110 balls, hitting four sixes and six fours. He didn’t get much support from the other end as the trio of Muhammad Mannan (3-27), Aamir Iqbal (2-24) and Muhammad Aslam (2-32) kept picking wickets regularly.
After scoring 76 in the first 10 overs, the home side scored more than 100 in the next 9.5 overs. Haji Javed picked up three wickets for Gujrat, giving away 65 runs in his quota of eight overs.
The tournament is being played on single league basis and the eight participating teams have been divided equally into two groups. The Group A comprises of Lahore Lions, Lahore Panthers, Balochistan and Multan while the Group B contains Sialkot, Gujrat, Khyber Pakhthunkhwa and Karachi. The league matches will conclude on September 27 and the two top team from each group will qualify for the final scheduled to be held on September 29.
