The seasoned slow left-armer grabbed five wickets for mere 14 runs in four overs to send YJ XI reeling for 119 all out after the latter began their chase for 166 in the Group ‘D’ match at the Vital Five Ground.
After reaching 87-2 thanked to opener Mohammad Waqas making 55 from 35 deliveries (six fours and two sixes), YJ XI suffered an inexplicable collapse during which they lost eight wickets for only 32 runs.
Former international Mansoor Amjad made 21 off 20 balls with one six and one four, while Ashraf Ali (15 off 16 balls) was the only other batsman to enter double figures.
Zulfiqar’s Pakistan team-mates Anwar Ali (2-19) and Fawad Alam (2-15) chipped in with two wickets apiece.
Earlier, Omar CC reached 165-8 after winning the toss. Test opener Khurram Manzoor stroked four boundaries and one six in scoring 39 from 26 balls. Mohammad Waqas (not to be confused with his unrelated namesake in the opposing team) contributed run-a-ball 44 that included three fours and one six.
Fawad Alam lifted a brace of sixes in his 17-ball cameo of 22, while Saad Nasim slammed three sixes and one four in his 15-ball 31.
Waqas claimed three wickets for 36 runs with his slow left-armers. Fellow spinners Yaqzan Rajput and Ashiq Ali each took two wickets.
Zulfiqar’s outstanding spell won him the man-of-the-match award.
Summarised scores:
OMAR CC 165-8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Waqas 44, Khurram Manzoor 39, Saad Nasim 31, Fawad Alam 22; Mohammad Waqas 3-36, Ashiq Ali 2-24, Yaqzan Rajput 2-46); YJ XI 119 in 17 overs (Mohammad Waqas 55, Mansoor Amjad 21; Zulfiqar Babar 5-14, Fawad Alam 2-15, Anwar Ali 2-19).
