Semifinal line up complete in PCB departmental ODI Cup

UBL continue its winning streak and remained undefeated during the league stage. UBL with 14 points tops the table to reach into the semifinals of the tournament. WAPDA with 10 points secured the second spot while with 8 points each, SSGC and PTV ended on third and fourth to complete the semifinal lineup of departmental ODI cup. Young PTV side stuns all as it gets through to the semis while defending champions HBL, KRL and NBP failed to qualify for the semifinals.

In the first match on the last day of league stage, SSGC outplayed HBL by 4 runs. After winning the toss HBL decided to bowl first and SSGC put a total of 290 runs in 48 overs match for the loss of 8 wickets. Opener Asad Shafiq hammered 119 runs while Hussain Talat 58 and Khurram Shahzad 53 were other top scorers from SSGC. Muhammad Bilal Shah, Amad Butt, Nasir Ahmed and Zohaib Khan picked up 2 wickets each. In reply, HBL team was bowled out on 286 runs, 4 short of required runs by SSGC bowlers. Salman Afridi 93 was top scorer while Zohaib Khan remained unbeaten on 39 runs. Muhammad Imran picked up 3 while Imran Khalid finished with 2 and Mohammad Abbas, Sadaqat Ali got 1 wicket each.

In another match, WAPDA stuns NBP by 6 wickets. WAPDA won the toss and elected to field first. NBL posted 218/10 runs on the board in 48.2 overs. Rameez Raja jr 59 and Kamran Ghulam 42 were top runs scorers. Mansoor Amjad picked up 4 wickets while Zahid Mansoor and Khalid Usman ended with 3 wickets each. HBL chased the total in 44.5 overs for the loss of 4 wickets. Kamran Akmal 115 and Salman butt 44 were main runs contributors while Mansoor Amjad remained unbeaten on 40 runs. Bilal Asif got 2 wickets while Raza Hasan and Kamran Ghulam picked up 1 wicket apiece.

Third match of the day was played between UBL and KRL where UBL remains victorious with 112 runs. UBL after winning the toss decided to bat first and put a total of 286 runs in allotted 50 overs for the loss of 8 wickets. Shan Masood 86, Umair Khan 65 and Akbar-ur-Rehman 64 were top scorers. Sadaf Hussain got 4 wickets while Ahmed Bashir ended with 3 wickets from KRL. UBL wrapped up KRL innings on just 174 runs in 39.2 overs. Saif Babar 34, Hasan Raza 32 were top runs contributors. Mir Hamza picked up 3 wicktes while Mohammad Asghar, Ashiq Ali got 2 each and Hammad Azam, Akbar-ur-Rehman ended with 1 wickets each.

The last league match was played between SSGC and PTV where SSGC defeated young PTV side with 8 wickets. SSGC after winning the toss elected to field first. PTV side did not play with their potential and posted just 194/10 in 46.2 overs. Nihal Mansoor with 40 and Ali Khan 30 remains top scorers. Kashif Bhatti got 4 wickets while 2 each wickets for Ahmed Jamal, Fawad Alam and Zia ul haq, Mohammad Irfan jr got 1 wicket apiece. SSGC chased the required 195 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets in 37.4 overs. Sami Aslam unbeaten on 103 and Umar Amin 65 helps SSGC to cross the line easily to reach in top 4. Waleed Malik was the only bowler who picked just 1 wicket from PTV.

First semifinal of the tournament will be played between UBL and SSGC on Thursday 11th January at NBP stadium Karachi while WAPDA vie against PTV in the second semifinal on Friday 12th January at same venue. Final of the tournament will be played on Sunday 14th January at UBL sports complex Karachi.