Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq led SNGPL to the President’s Cup after his departmental team beat WAPDA in the final on Friday.
It was Misbah’s second major domestic title as a captain after he led Faisalabad Wolves to Super Eight T20 Cup last month.
A strong performance from the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited top order, combined with Asad Ali’s incisive bowling, helped SNGPL take the President’s Cup One-Day tournament against Water and Power Development Authority with a 32-run victory in Karachi. SNGPL were put in to bat and the openers put on a commanding 125-run stand. Once Mohammad Hafeez fell for 58, Azhar Ali came on to score 33 in a 40-run partnership with Taufeeq Umar. Umar Akmal failed again, finishing a dismal tournament where he scored only 79 runs in 6 innings. Further contributions from the captain Misbah ul-Haq (34) and Khurram Shehzad (42) helped SNGPL to an imposing 283 for 8 at the end of their fifty overs. This finished Misbah’s glorious run in the tournament, where he averaged 64 and a strike-rate touching 120. WAPDA’s Nasir Malik was the most effective of the bowlers, taking 3 for 45.
WAPDA struggled initially in their reply, losing two wickets with just 8 on the board. Rafatullah Mohmand, who had starred in the tournament with three centuries on the trot and an unbeaten 91, was only able to make 7, as WAPDA were on the back foot early on. Sohaib Maqsood (57) and Ali Azmat (39) put on a 100-run stand to help steady the innings. Mohammad Ayub’s unbeaten 66 helped keep the team afloat, but wickets continued to tumble around him. Ultimately the required rate got out of hand as they faced 10-11 an over going into the final ten.
Asad Ali took 4 for 37, all of which were bowled, to keep WAPDA under check. WAPDA ended their innings on 251 for 9, giving SNGPL a 32-run victory. Asad Ali finished as the highest wicket-takers list, with 14 wickets in 6 matches at 17.07.
This title marks the third for Misbah ul-Haq this season, where he has also won the Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 and President’s Trophy.
Scores:
SNGPL 283-8 in 50 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 58, 64 balls, 7 x4s, Taufiq Umar 79, 78 balls, 8 x4s, Azhar Ali 33, 51 balls, 1 x4s, Misbah-ul-Haq 34, 35 balls, 3 x4s,1 x6s, Khurram Shahzad 42, 42 balls, 4 x4s, Junaid Khan 2-57, Nasir Malik 3-45, Saad Nasim 2-34)
WAPDA 251-9 in 50 overs (Rafatullah Mohamand 7, Sohaib Maqsood 57, 71 balls, 6 x4s, 2 x6s, Ali Azmat 39, 57 balls, 1 x4s, 4 x6s, Aamer Sajjad 29,Mohammad Ayub 66*, 60 balls, 9 x4s, Asad Ali 4-37, Mohammad Hafeez 1-58, Yasir Shah 2-50)
Result: SNGPL won by 32 runs
Toss: WAPDA
Umpires: Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza
TV Umpires: Saleem Badar
Reserve Umpire: Kamal Marchant
Referee: Anwar Khan
Official Scorer: Salman Siddiqui
Press Scorer: Wasim Abbas.
Prize Money
Winner (SNGPL) Rs.250,000, Runners Up (WAPDA) Rs.125,000, Man of the Match (Final) Asad Ali (SNGPL) Rs.25,000, Best Batsman Sohaib Maqsood (SNGPL)-427 runs Rs.25,000, Best Bowler Asad Ali (SNGPL)-14 wickets Rs.25,000, Best Fielder Taufiq Umar (SNGPL) 7 catches Rs.25,000, Best Wicket Keeper Mohammad Rizwan (SNGPL)-9 Victims Rs.25,000.
