PERCEPTIONS vs ICT
(FC CHALLENGERS CUP MATCH)
Perceptions and ICT challenged each other in this close game. The display of batting was not of the highest order from both teams, which resulted in a low scoring fixture. Batting first, Perceptions were off to a shaky start and lost both openers in quick succession. Arif Yaqoob came in to bat at number 3, and tried to repair the damage. With no support from the other end, he still managed to score 35 runs off 31 balls. Maqbool Gul was another batsman who tried to counter attack the ICT bowling lineup. He scored 29 runs off 27 but was not assisted by his fellow batsmen. Perceptions were all out for just 109 runs in the 19th over. Idrees Amin picked up 3 wickets for 12 runs, and was well assisted by other bowlers as 2 wickets apiece were picked by Ali Ammar and Hasnain Iqbal, while Obaid Umer and Hunain bagged 1 wicket each.
What looked like an easy target became a challenging task for ICT as their batting lineup collapsed. Apart from opening batsman Fahad Jabbar, no other batsman could stay on the crease for a significant amount of time. With three ducks in the middle order, things looked very unpleasant for ICT. But it seemed like Fahad Jabbar was batting on some other track. His masterful innings of 72 runs proved to be the match winning factor for ICT. Idrees Amin and Ahsan Zafar scored 12 runs each in the concluding phase of the innings which gave their side the needed push to chase the target. Fahad Jabbar remained not out and helped his side chase the target in the 19th over. Noman Saleem picked up 3 wickets, 2 wickets were grabbed by Rao Tahir while Arif Yaqoob and Waqar got 1 wicket each. Losing 7 wickets in the process, ICT won the game by 3 wickets.
