It was an edge of the seat stuff as Perception held their nerve to beat Acme Technologies in a last ball thriller in Challengers FC cup Ramzan 2016.
It was match where both teams fought hard till the last ball. Despite making a low score of 121, Acme did not lose hope as they fought with the ball and dragged the match till the last ball.
Acme Technoligies batted first and were off to a horrible start as the very first ball of the match cost them a wicket, Noman Saleem who had an exceptional day with the ball dismissed Muhammad Zeeshan for a golden duck. Muhammad Zeeshan was soon followed by his opening partner Faiq Mateen who was dismissed for just 3 runs. With their backs against the wall, Saif and Ali Butt knew that they have to bring some stability back and form a partnership to reach a decent score. Both initially bided their time and rightly so as they did not want to lose any more wickets. Perceptions bowlers were also all over them and they bowled in right areas and kept the pressure on. Saif and Ali added more than 40 runs together before they both were dismissed by Waqar for 26 and 24 respectively. They both couldn't convert their starts into something big. After them no one really could stay for long. Acme Technologies were lacking big partnerships lower down the order Ammar Iqbal and Azad tried to score some runs but wickets at regular intervals and no big score only took them to 121 in their 20 overs. The bowling was outstanding Waqar and Salman picked up 2 wickets and were economical aswell.
Perceptions needed only over 6 runs an over. Acme Technologies had to fought hard to defend it and just like Acme Technologies, Perception also had a bad beginning as Mukhtar Ahmed was bowled for just 4 and Maqbool Gul was also dismissed early for 2. With these 2 quick wickets Acme Technologies started believing that they could restrict them below 121 but Bilal Chinioty had other plans, it was like he was batting on a different surface and rest of the batsmen were on a different surface. Mazhar Hussain partnered him well and rotated the strike consistently. They both took Perceptions close to victory before both were fell one after another. Bilal Chinioty was dismissed by Irfan Shaikh for a very well made 49 of just 29, after him Acme Technologies tightened the screws on Perceptions. They built pressure on the batsmen and did not let them score freely which took the game to the last over. It could have been anyone's game but Shaaz and Saifullah h0ld their nerve and got their team over the line.
It was a low scoring last ball thriller and in the end it was won by Perceptions by 5 wickets.