ISLAMABAD - Asif Memorial beat visiting Iftikhar Cricket Academy, Karachi by 9 runs in a nail-biting encounter played here at Bhutto Cricket Ground on Thursday.
ICA skipper won the toss and invited Asif Memorial to bat first, who were without the services of first class players Ali Imran, Raheel Majeed, Junaid Nadir, M Irfan and Salman Hadier, but even then they showed tremendous fighting spirit and carried the day for the hosts.
Asif Memorial got off to worst possible start as opener Shoaib Khaliq was back in the pavilion without troubling the bowlers. Mukrram Ali Javed then contributed significant 45 runs. Tail-ender Haris Hassan added impressive 42 with the help of 2 fours and as many sixes to help Asif Memorial pile up 155 in 35 overs. Adnan captured 3-3 while Daniyal and Hamza took 2 wickets each.
ICA Karachi were provided solid opening stand of 60, but as soon as the openers returned to pavilion, ICA continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 146 in 33.5 overs. Noman scored 34 while extras were also 34. Asif Memorial conceded too many bonus runs, but ICA failed to capitalize. Waqas captured 3-27 and Wasif 2-28.
Bhutto Cricket Academy chairman Ch Ajmal Sabir, Assistant Director Sports Ch Shahzad, ICA SVP Syed Abrar Rizvi, CDA cricket team manager Zaka Ullah, chief organiser Bhutto Cricket Academy Ch Wasif Bajwa, coach Hassan Asghar Shaikh and others were present on the occasion. Later, chief guests Ch Ajmal Sabir and Ch Shahzad distributed prizes among the players. Man of the match Haris was awarded Rs 5000 while Rs 10,000 were announced for the entire team. Ch Shahzad announced dinner for both the teams.