Pakistani Panthers Veterans XI regained their Midas touch and ended the goodwill tour of Sri Lanka on a winning note by overwhelming Kandurata Veterans XI defeated by79 runs at the Trinity College Ground in Kandy the other day.
It was third victory in four matches played by Pakistan Panthers Veterans, led by all-rounder Fawad Ijaz Khan, during their one-week tour of the Island. They had earlier defeated Western Province Veterans XI at the SSC Ground in Colombo.
They managed to avenge the defeat they suffered at the hands Kandurata Veterans XI at the same venue a day earlier. It remained their solitary loss during the trip.Put into bat, Pakistani Panthers Veterans XI amassed a huge score of 266 for eight in the allotted 35 overs.
The hard-hitting Ashraf Pakhali topscored with 76 while useful contributions also came from Najeeb Sadiq (44), Jaffer Qureshi (34), Mansoor Akhtar (27) and Ghaffar Kazmi (27) with Chinthaka Girihagama (2-26 and Gamini Debehapuwa (2-56) sharing the bowling honours. Kandurata Veterans lost wickets at regular intervals while chasing a stiff victory target of 267. They were bundled out 187 runs in 29.2 overs despite fine knocks by Ravi Punchihewa (45), Wasantha Kumara (44) and Gamini Debehapuwa (32). The Pakistani Panthers Veterans XI trio of Mohammad Sharif (2-38), Fawad Ijaz Khan (2-43) and Usman Haq (2- 52) bowled effectively to engineer an emphatic 79-run win for the tourists. Ashraf Pakhali was adjudged Man of the Match for his brilliant knock.
Summarised scores: Pakistan Panthers Veterans XI: 266-8 in 35 overs (Ashraf Pakhali 76, Najeeb Sadiq 44, Jaffer Qureshi 34, Mansoor Akhtar 27, Ghaffar Kazmi 27; Chinthaka Girihagama 2-26, Gamini Debehapuwa 2-56), Kandurata Veterans XI: 187 in 29.2 overs (Ravi Punchihewa 45, Wasantha Kumara 44, Gamini Debe 32; Mohammad Sharif 2- 38, Fawad Ijaz Khan 2-43, Usman Haq 2- 52), Result: Pakistan Panthers Veterans XI won by 79 runs.
