NQ (200 all out) beat Nabipur (194-9)

Tariq leads the way

TARIQ Hussain gave a commanding captain's performance to guide NQ to a thrilling last over victory against Nabipur.

Hussain hit a classy 71 then took two vital wickets to clinch a six run victory for his championship-chasing side.

The captain hung about long enough to help NQ reach a total of 200 as wickets tumbled at frequent intervals throughout the innings.

Pacey bowler Yusuf Booth made a breakthrough as early as the fifth over to dismiss Usman Gani then claimed his opening partner Azhar Iqbal in his next over.

Booth, who found good line and accuracy throughout his 12 over stint, claimed the wicket of Mahmood for just one run in his next over.

With NQ spluttering on 54-3, Hussain needed assistance and he got it firstly from Khalid Hafif and then Kesher.

Hussain and Khalid steadied the innings and when Khalid was eventually dismissed for 38 off Abdul Manjra, the pair had pushed the total along to 121-4. Swash-buckling Kesher then came to the crease and in six over stay whacked five boundaries to hit a quick-fire 30 before Salim Mota picked up the first of his three wickets.

Mota, who finished with three wickets in his two over spell, then took the prize scalp of Hussain who looked on course to reach a century.

But Hussain had done his work and departed the scene with NQ on 189-7.

Only 11 runs were added to that total with Usman claiming the wickets of Mobin Patel and Khalid Mahmood in the very next over.

Mota took his thrid wicket when Zulfi was caught by Usman for a duck.

Nabipur's reply was steady with Usman -- the league's highest run maker last season -- and Ilyas Manjra putting together an opening wicket stand of 78.

Usman was dropped by Hussain in the 14th over but his stay of execution was short. For in the very next ball Muzffer showed a save pair of hands to catch him off the bowling of Zulfi just one run short of his half century.

The break-up of the partnership slowed down Nabipur run rate which was not helped by the quick dismissals of Hasib Patal and Faruk Patel, both for three.

But all the while Ilyas was doing his bit and his fine attacking batting was slowing eating into NQ's modest total.

However, after eight boundaries, Ilyas took one swipe to many and was clean bowled by Mohbin.

It was the start of Nabipur's downfall as, although they had wickets in hand, the overs were quickly diminishing.

Yusuf Booth and Shaukat Day upped the run rate with Day hitting three boundaries on his way to a quick 24. With just three overs remaining, Hussain added his experience to the bowling attack and made an immediate breakthrough, claiming the wicket of Banglawala.

That left Nabipur needing 17 off the last over which proved to be just to much as the finished six runs short of victory.

NQ

A Iqbal lbw b Booth...17

U Gani c Usman b Booth...10

T Hussain b Mota...71

N Mahmood b Booth...1

K Hafif b Manjra...38

Kesher b Mota...30

Shahnawaz run out...0

Mohbin b Usman...15

K Mahmood c Ismail b Usman...8

Zulfi c Usman b Mota...0

Muzffer not out...1

Extras...9

Total (all out)...200

Bowling: Y Booth 11-0-63-3; F Patel 2-0-13-0; S Day 3-0-31-0; H Patel

2-0-25-0; A Manjra 2-0-16-1; Usman 4-0-28-2; S Mota 2-0-21-3

NABIPUR

Usman c Musffer b Zulfi...49

Ilyas Manjra b Mohbin...62

Hasib c Hafif b Zulfi...3

Faruk b Patel...3

Y Booth run out...12

S Day run out...24

H Banglawala b Hussain...0

Salim c Mohbin b Hussain...9

A Manjra not out...2

Ismail not out...3

Extras...17

Total (nine wkts)...194

Bowling: Mohbin 7-0-43-2; Muzffer 3-1-13-0; K Hafif 4-0-33-0; Kesher

6-0-28-0; Zulfi 8-0-47-3; T Hussain 2-0-13-2