ISLAMABAD: Sialkot secured the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25, Pakistan’s mega domestic cricket event, edging out Peshawar by a dramatic one-wicket victory in Karachi on Sunday.
Chasing a target of 173 runs on a risky surface, Sialkot got over the line with 9 wickets down to win their first title of the tournament since 2008.
Imad Butt
Earlier on Day 3, Peshawar were dismissed 159 in their second innings of the final, the credit goes to Raza as he ended up taking ten wickets in the game.
With a 13-run lead in the first innings, Peshawar set a target of 173 runs for the opposition.
By the end of Day 3, half of Sialkot’s players were back in the pavilion with 59 runs on the board, needing another 114 runs to win with five wickets in hand.
Sialkot’s skipper Imad Butt played a key role in the game. In the morning session of Day 4 when the ball was moving quite a bit, he played a crucial knock of 65 runs to give his team an outside chance. However, the captain got out when his team required another 20 runs.
Shahzaib Bhatti, held one end and provided the finishing touch to the match. He has contributed a match-winning 32 runs.
Peshawar’s Niaz Khan claimed four wickets for 20 runs in eight overs, while Aamir Khan took three wickets during the match.
Leading run-scorer
Sialkot’s Azan Awais emerged as the event’s leading run-scorer with 844 runs, including four hundreds and two fifties.
On the bowling side, Peshawar’s Niaz Khan claimed 39 wickets and stood out as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
Sialkot’s 19-year-old wicketkeeper Afzal Manzoor took 38 catches and one stumping. He demonstrated exceptional skills behind the stumps.
The event’s best individual batting performance came from Ali Zaryab of Lahore Whites, who made a remarkable 206 runs against Sialkot.
FATA’s Afaq Afridi also delivered the best bowling figures, taking 8/57 in a game against Lahore Blues.
