CRICKET – IN a high-octane final of the Khalid Bin Hamad Cricket League 2025 under Bahrain Cricket Federation Division B T20 Series 2, GAZ-CC lifted the trophy by defeating Ustad Cricket Club by 27 runs in a match dominated by explosive batting and crucial bowling spells.
Winning the toss, Ustad CC opted to bowl first, a decision that initially seemed justified when Ibad Rahim struck early.
However, what followed was a breathtaking assault from GAZ-CC inform opener Zain Ghias, who was later adjudged Player of the Match.
Ghias bludgeoned a stunning 76 runs off just 25 balls, an innings laced with 3 fours and 9 sixes, catapulting his team’s run-rate at a staggering 304.00.
He was ably supported by cameos from Ozaif Sohrab (20 off 14), Danish Ali Sanaullah (20 off 13), and a vital late knock from Nasir Mahmood (25 off 21).
Despite a flurry of wickets in the middle overs, with Ibad Rahim (3/34) and Aurang Zeb Baig (2/42) being the pick of the bowlers for Ustad, GAZ-CC managed to post a daunting total of 202 all out on the final ball of their 20 overs.
The Ustad CC reply was built almost entirely around a sensational solo effort from opener Ashraf Mughal. Displaying immense skill and power, Mughal single-handedly kept his team in the hunt with a magnificent century, scoring 104 off 57 balls (7x4, 6x6). He found early support from Naseer Afridi, who smashed a quickfire 29 off 20 in an opening stand of 92 runs.
However, once the partnership was broken, wickets fell at regular intervals, stifling the chase. GAZ-CC’s bowlers chipped away with discipline. Muhammad Nadeem Abdul Rasheed applied the critical brake in the middle overs with excellent figures of 3/27 from his 4 overs.
The double-wicket over from Raheel Khan (2/3) and the finishing blows from the day’s hero Zain Ghias (3/39) sealed the game for GAZ-CC.
Ustad CC were eventually bowled out for 175 in 19 overs, 28 runs short of the target.
In the end, GAZ-CC held their nerve in the final to claim a well-deserved victory, their all-round team performance overcoming a legendary individual effort from Ustad CC’s Ashraf Mughal.
BRIEF SCORES
GAZ-CC: 202 all out (20 overs). Zain Ghias 76 (25), Nasir Mahmood 25 (21). Ibad Rahim 3/34, Aurang Zeb Baig 2/42.
Ustad CC: 175 all out (19 overs). Ashraf Mughal 104 (57), Naseer Afridi 29 (20). Muhammad Nadeem 3/27, Zain Ghias 3/39, Raheel Khan 2/3.
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