The Mahipar Stars finished the double round-robin stage of the Mhawala Presents Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament 2025, powered by SuperCola, as the table toppers and qualified for the final of the event after they drew their last game against the Pamir Legends.
Earlier on Day 1, the Mahipar Stars won the toss and opted to bat
first. Afsar Khan Zazai led the side in the absence of their regular skipper,
Darwish Rasooli, and stepped up for his team with a terrific double hundred
(202) to help his team post 434 runs on the board in the first inning.
Among the others, Allah Noor Nasiri (65) and Abdul Hadi (65)
scored half-centuries before Abdul Rahman added crucial 37 runs. From the
bowling team, Qais Ahmad (4/122) picked up four wickets, whereas Mohammad
Saleem (2/74) and Nangyal Kharoti (2/86) bagged two wickets each. Fareed Ahmad
(1/57) and Bilal Sami (1/56) spared one wicket each.
In response, the skipper Abdul Malik (134) led the Pamir Legends
with an outstanding hundred and was equally supported by his opening partner
Imran Mir (55), but the others didn’t capitalize on the batting as they made
308 runs and trailed by 126 runs in the first inning.
All 10 wickets went to the spinners, as Sharafuddin Ashraf (5/55)
bagged his third five-wicket haul, whereas Arab Gul (3/88) and Naseer Khan
Maroofkhil (2/41) shared the rest of the wickets among them.
The Pamir Legends, who conceded a 126-run lead while batting, put
on a fantastic bowling effort and bundled the Mahipar Stars for 89 runs in
their 2nd batting outing. Qais Ahmad (4/21) and Nangyal Khaorti (4/35) picked
up four wickets each, whereas Fareed Ahmad (1/21) and Mohammad Saleem (1/10)
bagged one wicket each.
Having already a lead of 126 runs from the first inning, the Pamir
Legends were set a target of 216 runs on Day 4. The Legends scored 147/4 runs
in pursuit of their target before the proceedings were interrupted due to poor
lighting during the final session on Day 4, and subsequently, the game ended in
a draw. Afsar Khan Zazai, who had scored a magnificent double-hundred, was
awarded the Player of the Match.
Pamir Legends’ run in the event has come to an end, whereas the
Mahipar Stars qualified for the final, where they will face the Maiwand
Champions, starting this Wednesday, June 18, at the Ghazi Amanullah Khan
Cricket Ground in Nangarhar Province.