MIT Solutions win President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold final
Abbottabad : MIT Solutions were declared winners of the President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold tournament based on their first innings lead of 82 over Kingsmen Academy after the four-day non-first-class final ended as draw here at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The winners have also qualified for the first-class President’s Trophy Grade-I and received PKR five million cash prize along with the trophy, while Kingsmen Academy bagged the runners up prize of PKR 2.5 million and trophy.
Hasan Nawaz-led MIT Solutions were set a target of 304 runs with 75 overs left in the day by Kingsmen Academy, who were looking for an outright win to secure the first-class berth but not to be. MIT opening duo of Afaq Ahmed (40, 95b, 4x4s, 1×6) and Husnain Nadeem (26, 92, 2x4s) put on 85 runs in 30.1 overs.
Kingsmen Academy struck twice in successive overs to remove both the openers and sensed an opportunity but Abuzar Tariq (6, 55b, 1×4) and Abdullah Shafique then stitched a 34-run stand off 87 balls. Kingsmen again got two wickets in a space of 14 balls removing Abuzar and Riazullah.
It was at this juncture that best batter of the tournament Abdullah (60 not out, 103b, 8x4s) and Zahid Mansoor (40, 99b, 8x4s) joined forces with MIT 123-4 in 48.4 overs. They both put together 85 runs in 26.2 overs as Kingsmen’s bowlers toiled away without respite.
Earlier, Kingsmen Academy resumed the day four from 271-5 in 72 overs with a 189-run lead and declared their innings on 385-6 in 82 overs. Muhammad Shayan stretched his overnight score of 31 not out to 63, backing up his first innings century.
Meanwhile, no.7 batter Rana Faseehullah played the innings of note and helped his team declare with plenty of time remaining. He struck seven sixes and two fours in a blitzy 44-ball 71-run knock unscathed. Shayan was also named best wicketkeeper-batter and player of the tournament for his 543 runs and joint-most 26 dismissals behind the stumps. MIT Solutions’ Abuzar Tariq also had 26 dismissals to his name.
MIT’s Abdullah was declared player of the final for his twin half-centuries and best batter of the tournament for his brilliant tally of 911 runs off eight matches on the back of four fifties and three centuries. PHA Rawalpindi’s right-arm pacer Mohammad Tahir bagged the best bowler of the tournament award for his chart-topping 42 scalps in six matches.
Scores in brief
29 June to 2 July – Day 4 of 4 – President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold final
Match Drawn – MIT declared winners on first innings lead – MIT Solutions v Kingsmen Academy at Abbottabad Cricket Ground
Target: 304 runs
Kingsmen Academy 247 all out, 65.1 overs (Muhammad Shayan 142, Affan Ishaq 31; Muhammad Irfan 4-65, Khubaib Khalil 3-61, Muhammad Imran Jnr 2-44) and 385-6dec, 82 overs (Tayyab Arif 79, Rana Faseehullah 71, Muhammad Shayan 63, Muhammad Arshad 63, Najab Khan 59; Zahid Mansoor 2-45, Samama Riaz 2-127)
MIT Solutions 329 all out, 69.2 overs (Abdullah Shafique 87, Zahid Mansoor 50, Samama Riaz 44, Husnain Nadeem 44, Riazullah 34; Junaid Ahmad 5-82, Faizan Ghani 3-74) and 208-4, 75 overs (Abdullah Shafique 60 not out, Zahid Mansoor 40 not out, Afaq Ahmed 40, Husnain Nadeem 26; Muhammad Faizan Ghani 2-35)
Player of the match – Abdullah Shafique (MIT Solutions – 87 and 60 not out)
Player of the tournament and best wicketkeeper-batter – Muhammad Shayan (Kingsmen Academy – 543 runs and 26 dismissals)
Best batter of the tournament – Abdullah Shafique (MIT Solutions – 911 runs in 8 matches)
Best bowler of the tournament – Muhammad Tahir (PHA Rawalpindi – 42 wickets in 6 matches)
