Abbottabad (GNP): MIT Solutions were confirmed as champions of the President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold tournament on the strength of their 82-run first-innings advantage over Kingsmen Academy, after the four-day non-first-class final concluded in a draw at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.
With the win, MIT Solutions have earned a spot in the first-class President’s Trophy Grade-I and collected a cash prize of PKR 5 million along with the winners’ trophy. Kingsmen Academy took home PKR 2.5 million and the runners-up trophy.
Chasing a target of 304 with 75 overs remaining, Hasan Nawaz’s MIT side fell short of pushing for the win as Kingsmen sought an outright victory that would have sealed their own first-class promotion. Openers Afaq Ahmed (40 off 95 balls, with four fours and a six) and Husnain Nadeem (26 off 92 balls, two fours) built an opening stand of 85 in 30.1 overs.
Kingsmen hit back by dismissing both openers in consecutive overs, briefly sensing a way back into the match, but Abuzar Tariq (6 off 55 balls, one four) and Abdullah Shafique added 34 runs together off 87 deliveries. Kingsmen struck twice more within 14 balls, removing Abuzar and Riazullah.
That brought together the tournament’s standout batter, Abdullah (unbeaten on 60 off 103 balls, with eight fours) and Zahid Mansoor (40 off 99 balls, with eight fours) at 123-4 in the 48.4th over. The pair added 85 runs over 26.2 overs as Kingsmen’s bowling attack struggled to find a breakthrough.
Earlier in the day, Kingsmen Academy had resumed their innings at 271-5 after 72 overs, holding a 189-run lead, before declaring at 385-6 in 82 overs. Muhammad Shayan built on his overnight 31 not out to reach 63, adding to the century he had scored in the first innings.
Lower down the order, number seven batter Rana Faseehullah played a standout knock, striking an unbeaten 71 off just 44 balls — including seven sixes and two fours — to help his side declare with time to spare. Shayan was recognized as the tournament’s best wicketkeeper-batter and overall player of the tournament, finishing with 543 runs and a tournament-high 26 dismissals behind the stumps, a tally matched by MIT’s Abuzar Tariq.
MIT’s Abdullah was named player of the final for his twin half-centuries, and best batter of the tournament after amassing 911 runs across eight matches, including four fifties and three hundreds. PHA Rawalpindi pace bowler Mohammad Tahir took home the tournament’s best bowler award for leading all bowlers with 42 wickets in six matches.
Scores in brief: 29 June to 2 July — Day 4 of 4 — President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold final Match drawn — MIT declared winners on first-innings lead — MIT Solutions v Kingsmen Academy at Abbottabad Cricket Ground
Target: 304 runs
Kingsmen Academy 247 all out, 65.1 overs (Muhammad Shayan 142, Affan Ishaq 31; Muhammad Irfan 4-65, Khubaib Khalil 3-61, Muhammad Imran Jnr 2-44) and 385-6dec, 82 overs (Tayyab Arif 79, Rana Faseehullah 71, Muhammad Shayan 63, Muhammad Arshad 63, Najab Khan 59; Zahid Mansoor 2-45, Samama Riaz 2-127)
MIT Solutions 329 all out, 69.2 overs (Abdullah Shafique 87, Zahid Mansoor 50, Samama Riaz 44, Husnain Nadeem 44, Riazullah 34; Junaid Ahmad 5-82, Faizan Ghani 3-74) and 208-4, 75 overs (Abdullah Shafique 60 not out, Zahid Mansoor 40 not out, Afaq Ahmed 40, Husnain Nadeem 26; Muhammad Faizan Ghani 2-35)
Player of the match — Abdullah Shafique (MIT Solutions — 87 and 60 not out) Player of the tournament and best wicketkeeper-batter — Muhammad Shayan (Kingsmen Academy — 543 runs and 26 dismissals) Best batter of the tournament — Abdullah Shafique (MIT Solutions — 911 runs in 8 matches) Best bowler of the tournament — Muhammad Tahir (PHA Rawalpindi — 42 wickets in 6 matches)
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
