Rizwan’s ton steers SNGPL to President’s Cup final

LAHORE: Sui Northern Gas Pipelines’ (SNGPL) 20-year old batter Rizwan Mehmood struck his maiden List-A century to help his team beat Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) by 74 runs in the first semifinal of the President’s Cup One-Day tournament at the Jinnah Stadium Gujranwala on Sunday evening.

WAPDA were bundled out for 259 in 45.3 overs in pursuit of the 334-run target following fighting half-centuries for Khalid Usman and Mohammad Arif.

Earlier, defending champions SNGPL were put into bat and were reduced to 35-3 before Rizwan, batting at No. 5, took his team out of trouble with an unbeaten 116-ball 136 that included 14 fours and a six. He stitched a 111-run fifth-wicket stand with Hasan Rizwan (55).

The 19-year old debutant Saad Masood’s quick-fire 44 not out off 27 balls with three fours and as many sixes provided impetus to the SNGPL innings as the unbroken 89-run seventh-wicket stand with Rizwan led them to 333-6.

Ali Raza picked up two wickets while Khalid Usman, Naqeebullah and Khushdil Shah dismissed one batter each. WAPDA lost regular wickets in their reply and lost half their side for 88 runs in 21.1 overs. Opening batter Mohammad Arif was then dismissed for a 72-ball 61 with the help of nine fours to make it 122-6 in 26 overs.

Khalid Usman, batting at No. 8, rekindled WAPDA’s hopes with his 73 off 67 balls that saw him hit six fours and four sixes. He was involved in a 57-run seventh-wicket stand with Ayaz Tasawar (30) and an eighth-wicket stand of 43 runs with Mohammad Zeeshan (30).

SNGPL wrapped up WAPDA’s innings in the 46th over as Hasan Rizwan dismissed Khalid, backing up his half-century with two wickets. Hasan Nawaz (2-20) and Bilawal Bhatti (2-45) bagged two wickets apiece while Yasir Shah, Saad Masood and Kashif Ali picked up on wicket each. Pakistan Television (PTV) will lock horns with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in the second semi-final on Monday.