Brilliant Imran Nazir helps ZTBL thrash Sialkot Stallions
Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limted (ZTBL) defeated Sialkot Stallions by an emphatic margin of 173 runs in a Group B fixture of the 2010-11 Faysal Bank National One Day Tournament Division One on Tuesday.
ZTBL’s victory was led by their captain and Test star Imran Nazir, who struck a blazing century to dismantle the Sialkot Stallions, which is ironically the team he represents in regional cricket. The majority of Sialkot’s senior players are representing
their respective departments including Shoaib Malik, Imran Nazir and Rana Naved, but still the young team has done pretty well in the ongoing domestic season.
At the Jinnah Stadium Sialkot, the home team won the toss and invited ZTBL to bat first on a flat track that had no assistance for the bowlers what so ever. It eventually turned out to be a bad decision as the opposition captain Imran Nazir took the home
team’s bowling apart from the beginning. He and youngster Babar Azam struck brilliant hundreds to help their team pile up a mammoth total of 377 runs in their allotted 50 overs for the loss of just three wickets.
Babar Azam was the top scorer for ZTBL as he remained unbeaten on a run-a-ball 132 runs which included 12 boundaries. However, Imran Nazir provided the real momentum to the ZTBL innings. He faced just 68 balls for his 114 runs, and struck 19 fours and three
massive sixes in his innings. It was a typical Imran Nazir innings as 94 of his runs came in the shape of boundaries. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Abbas-c41488, Kamran Younis and
Mansoor Amjad claimed a scalp each.
Chasing a huge target to upset ZTBL, the home team never looked like challenging, and were bowled out for only 204 runs in the 43rd over of the innings. Mohammad Ayub who performed exceptionally well in the recently concluded 2010-11 Quaid-e-Azam
Trophy Division One, was the only batsman who was able to resist ZTBL’s experienced bowling line-up. Ayub scored 69 runs off 79 deliveries, which included 6 fours. Apart from Ayub, only two other batsmen were able to reach double figures, which should be a
worrying sign for the management of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sialkot-c842 Stallions.
Mohammad Khalil and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rehan-Riaz-c84633 also claimed a scalp.
Although http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Babar-Azam-c1122 also struck a brilliant hundred for ZTBL, his skipper Imran Nazir was named as the Player of the Match for his influential innings.
Even though Imran Nazir has been given a lot of chances at the international level, he has never succeeded in cementing his place in the Pakistani team. However, he has the potential to win a limited overs match on his own. He is someone who is blessed with
immense talent and still has time to make his mark in international cricket, if he can develop the temperament which is required at the highest stage of the game.
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