Omar Associates storms in Naya Nazimabad Ramadan Cup quarters

KARACHI:   The duo of Sami-ur-Rehman and Asif Ali shone with the bat and ball as Omar Associates stormed into the quarterfinals of 5th Naya Nazimabad Ramadan Cup T20 Cricket Tournament when they whipped National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) by 40 runs on Friday nigh Opener Sami banged 61 and left arm spinner Asif Ali captured three wickets to play key role in their teams win at Lawai Stadium. They were jointly declared man of the match.

   Omar Associated recovered from a shaky start of 57-4 to post a fighting total of 148 for the loss of seven wickets after Saad Naseem won the toss and elected to bat first.

Omar Associates lost Usman Khan, Danish Aziz, Saad Nasem and Khushdil Shah in quick succession. International Bilal Asif made two major blows including the wicket of Saad for a duck.

  But Sami batted solidly under pressure and Pakistan discard Anwar Ali provided him good support. They added valuable 42 runs for fifth wicket. Anwar went after making 14.   But Sami anchored his team’s innings well and smashed four towering sixes and two fours in top-scoring 61 off 49 balls. At the fag end Ashiq Ali hit an unbeaten 17 in ten balls to take his close to 150 mark.

 Veteran Test left arm spinner Abdur Rehman captured three wickets 21 runs.  Bilal Asif and Raza Hasan shared the other four wickets for the bankers.

  NBP in reply crashed to 108 at the start of 17th over. Rameez Raja made 29 in 24 balls with two boundaries and one six while Saad Khan  hoisted brace of sixes and hit one four in his 26 off 21 balls. In a dramatic collapse NBP lost their last four wickets for mere two runs.

  After pacer Muhammad Irfan removed both the openers spinner Asif Ali and Muhammad Nawaz run through their middle order and tail.    Former KCCA President and Member PCB Governing Board Prof. Ejaz Ahmed Farqui was the chief presented the man of the award to Sami-ur-Rehman and Muhammad Asif.

   New KCCA President and Quetta Gladiators Franchise Owner Nadeem Omar, Chief Organizer Arif Habib, Samad Habib and other officials present on the occasion.

Summarized scores:

Omar Associates 148-7 in 20 overs  (Sami-ur-Rehman 61, Muhammad Nawaz 17 not out, Usman Khan 14, Anwar Ali 14, Khushdil Shah 10, Abdur Rehman 3-21, Bilal Asif 2-15, Raza Hasan 2-26) NBP  108 all out in 16.1 overs (Rameez Raja 29, Saad Khan 26, Owais Rehmani 16, Ahsan Ali 12, Asif Ali 3-17, Muhammad Iran 2-10, Ashiq Ali 2-17).