Afridi, Anwar bowl Sindh to winning Pentangular Cup
Bureau Report

KARACHI—The trio of Anwar Ali, Shahid Afridi and Sohail produced sterling bowling show to bowl Sindh to title winning and innings 31 runs victory over Punjab in ABN AMRO Pentangular Cup League Cricket Championship at National Stadium on Thursday.
Punjab’s formidable batting line having test cricketers in Salman Butt, Muhammad hafeez Misbah-ul-Haq , Kamran Akmal in their fold, succumbed against the pace of Sohail and Anwar and guile of leg-spinner Shahid Afridi.
After being crashed to 184 in their first innings against the fast medium bowler Sohail Khan, Punjab were dismissed for 202 in their second outing.
Former member of Pakistan’s junior cup winning team, Anwar followed his one for 59 in the first, demolished Punjab lower order batting, finishing with an excellent figures of four for 45 in 16 overs. Afridi grabbed three for 60 in 16 overs and pacer Sohail Khan claimed two wickets for 41 including the prized-scalp of Punjab skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.
Sohail Khan returned with the match figures of six wicket for 99 runs. Like in the first innings, Punjab batsmen struggled against Sindh’s four pronged attack. Only Misbah showed any resistance with an enterprising 51 off 72 balls with four boundaries and three 6s, Ammar Mahmood made 40 with seven boundaries and Salman Butt who came down the order because of sickness finished on an unbeaten 29 laced with six hits to the boundary.
At one stage, Punjab 140-2 but their next eight wicket tumbled for 61 runs in 19.1 overs and Punjab were bowled out for 202 n the second innings with nine overs of third day still remaining.
Earlier Sindh resuming at their overnight score of 303-6 applied closure at 417 for the loss seven wickets. Wicket-keeper/batsman Sarfraz Ahmed finished undefeated on 82 and his 108-ball knock spread over just over three hours was studded with five hits to the ropes and one over it. Anwar Ali returned unbeaten on 33 spiced with one six.
Sarfraz and Anwar put on 81-runs for unbroken eighth wicket stand.
Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Dr.Nasim Ashraf presented the glittering trophy to Sindh Captain Shahid Afridi with lucrative cash purse of Rs.Rs.100,000.
Rs.50,000 each were given to Salman Butt (best batsman), Sohail Khan (best bowler), Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper). Best fielder award will be announced after ongoing match between NWFP and Baluchistan in Peshawar.
Test all-rounder Sohail Khan won the brand new 1500 CC after being named Player of the Tournament. President Rawalpindi Cricket Association Shakil Shaikh received the car key on behalf of Sohail Tanvir of Federal Areas.