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The formidable Faisalabad Wolves lived up to their billing when they won the ABN AMRO Cup National One-day Cricket Championship Gold League, beating Lahore Eagles by seven wickets in the final here at National Stadium on Thursday.

The Faisalabad team have in fact regained their national limited overs title, which they had won for the first time in 2003-04 by bagging the season’s Quaid-e-Azam Cup. Lahore Eagles were one of the losing semifinalists last season.

The Eagles recovered from a shaky start of 43 for four wickets in 16 overs to muster 244 all out in 49.4 overs thanks to a defiant 62 by wicket-keeper Shahbaz Butt, after sent in to bat first on a seaming pitch. Faisalabad Wolves in reply romped home for the loss of three wickets in 44.1 overs.

Naved Latif finished with 54 not out off 55 balls with four fours and two sixes and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq remained unbeaten on 44, that came off 82 deliveries with a solitary boundary. The two shared an unbroken stand of 93 runs for the fourth wicket.

Left-arm fast-medium Samiullah Niazi picked up the Man of the Match award for his fiery bowling. The Faisalabad captain received the glittering trophy and a cash prize of Rs 250,000 while Lahore Eagles skipper Aamer Sajjad collected the runners-up trophy and a cash award of Rs 125,000.

The Faisalabad opening pair Mohammad Hafeez and Imran Ali gave their team a flying start of 124 runs in 19 overs. Hafeez was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Sohail Ahmed for 67. He clubbed eight fours and a six his during his 52-ball knock. Imran Ali’s 73 runs included 10 hits to the ropes as he faced 75 balls.

The lanky Samiullah Niazi in a fiery opening spell reduced Lahore Eagles to 43 for four wickets. He finished with excellent figures of four wickets for 25 runs in his ten overs. Fellow pacer Asad Ali chipped in with two wickets for 52 runs.

Lahore’s Shahbaz Butt slammed a rapid-fire 62 off just 52 balls that included three towering sixes and two boundaries. Arsalan Mir made 42 in 61 balls with two fours. Off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal came under heavy punishment conceding 70 runs in 9.4 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez (best batsman), Saeed Ajmal (best bowler), Mohammad Salman (best wicket-keeper) and Multan Tigers’ Saeed Anwar Junior and Lahore Eagles’ Abid Ali (joint prize for best fielder) got special awards carrying Rs 25,000 each.

Source: The News

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