Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: Opener Sami Aslam and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez sparkled with bat as Federal Areas outplayed Balochistan by one wicket to win Pakistan Cup at Pindi Stadium here on Saturday night. Chasing a formidable target of 324 in 50 overs, Federal Areas raced home after losing nine wickets. Sami hammered a scintillating ton (109) off 109 balls including 13 boundaries and one towering six. He was ably supported by Hafeez who made dazzling 83 off 75 balls including nine fours and two sixes. Another main contributor was Hussain Talat with 36. Sohail Tanvir and Ghulam Mudassar claimed three wickets apiece.

Earlier, all-rounders Aamir Yamin and Sohail bolstered Balochistan with some late strikes after Sahibzada Farhan dominated early action of the final. After being sent into bat by Federal Areas skipper Imad Wasim on a batting paradise at the Pindi Stadium, Balochistan were kept under check until the two all-rounders got together. They shared a blistering seven-wicket partnership of 71 in 43 deliveries to lift their side to 323-9 in 50 overs a great resurgence from being a modest 238-6 in 41 overs. Having given Balochistan starts of 88, 95, 116 and 119 in the four league-round fixtures, the prolific pair of captain Fakhar Zaman and Farhan could manage just 47 on the big occasion.

Fakhar failed for the first time as the 27-year-old Pakistan left-hander perished for only 10 after playing second fiddle to his young partner in the first-wicket stand of 47. But Farhan continued his brilliant form to register a maiden one-day century in just his ninth match, the 21-year-old right-hander, who hails from Charsadda, was dismissed for 53, 54, 58 and 54 in the previous four games of this competition. But he finally reached three figures before being bowled behind his legs by Imad’s for 112. The youngster struck 11 boundaries and four sixes while negotiating 94 balls during his awesome display. Sohaib Maqsood added 53 with Farhan after Hafeez had taken prized scalp of Fakhar with the tall right-hander contributing 32 of f 37 balls with the aid two fours and one six to complete a modest tournament for himself. Saad Ali then saw Farhan get to his century as the pair put on 75 for the third wicket before the left-hander fell to Sohail Khan for a 35-ball 27.

Federal Areas put Balochistan under considerable pressure by dismissing Farhan, Agha Salman (11) and Rameez Aziz (26) in the next eight overs. But Aamir and Sohail took over to restore parity. Aamir banged five fours and one six to score 47 off only 37 balls while Sohail slammed a brace of sixes and as many fours in a 23-ball cameo of 36. Zohaib Ahmed got both of them in identical fashion – bowled. Hafeez finished three for 63 in nine overs but the pick of the Federal Areas` bowlers one again was the immaculate Imad who snared 2-44 in 10 overs while Sohail was extremely expensive as the out-of-favour Pakistan paceman ended up with 2-80 in 10 overs. Zohaib took 2-41.