Defending champions Sialkot have secured their place in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final, where they will face Karachi Blues on December 1 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, it was reported on Wednesday.
In the ninth and final round of league matches, Bahawalpur defeated Faisalabad by four wickets, a result that ultimately cleared Sialkot’s path to the decider.
The race for the second finalist had been between Faisalabad and Sialkot, but Sialkot secured qualification with 155 points.
Faisalabad finished with 141 points, while Karachi Blues had already sealed their spot earlier with 161 points.
At the bottom of the table, Bahawalpur and Abbottabad ended in the last two positions and have been relegated.
At Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad, Bahawalpur successfully chased a 310-run target on the final day.
Resuming on 124 for 2 in their second innings, they reached the target with six wickets in hand.
Key contributions came from Mohammad Shehryar (92), Saifullah Bangash (76 not out), Mohammad Alamgir (69) and Mohammad Sadees (53). Mohammad Junaid was named Player of the Match.
At Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad, Islamabad thrashed Peshawar by an innings and 77 runs.
Peshawar, starting their second innings at 183 for 2, were bowled out for 255. Razaullah scored 100 runs while Waqar Ahmed contributed 83.
The star of the match was Musa Khan, who claimed 5 wickets for 70 runs, including an impressive spell of four wickets in four balls.
He finished the match with 10 wickets for 149 runs and was deservedly named Player of the Match.
