Gasco overcome Takreer in inter-oil co's final

Gasco retained the Inter-Oil Companies cricket title after defeating Takreer by 22 runs in the 2003 final here over the weekend.

The defending champions did well to score their second consecutive win in two days. On Thursday Gasco edged out Adgas by five runs in a thrilling semifinal match. They followed it up with their 22-run triumph in the final, which was also a closely-contested affair.

Batting first in the final, Gasco were rocked by a good bowling spell from Fahad Mujeeb, who picked up three quick wickets to reduce them to 29 for 3. But Mohammed Salim's 32 along with Majeed Qadeer (25) and an unbeaten 29 form Sana-ur-rehman helped Gasco reach 157 in their 30 overs. Fahad picked up four for 29.

Takreer, who lost opener Razi Anwar for no score, recovered through a breezy 48 from Abdul Raof. Raouf hit four boundaries and three sixes and put on 70 for the second wicket with Mohammed Waleed.

However after that wickets fell at regular intervals. In the 25th over, Takreer needed 37 runs off 30 balls.

However, only Siddique Ahmed managed 20 in the lower order and Takreer folded up for 135 all out with four balls to spare. Salim added two wickets to his haul to earn the man of match award, while Naseer Ahmed and Surya Rao shared four wickets.

On Thursday, both the semifinals were closely-contested affairs. A fine knock of 93 runs by Naseer Ahmed along with Rao's 31 helped Gasco score 202 for 9 in their 25 overs. Naseer, who hit three boundaries and five sixes fell to S. G Sitaram seven short of his century. Nilanga Tissera, Noor-ul Haq and Aravind Nair all picked up three wickets each.

In reply Adgas did well but fell short by five runs. With 30 balls left and six wickets in hand Adgas needed 52 to win. But they fell short by five runs with two run outs hitting them hard.

Earlier Kamran Rafique slammed 57 with five boundaries and three sixes while Sitaram missed his half century by four runs. Sitaram hit two sixes and a boundary. C.K Ananthram also chipped in with 31 for Adgas.

In the other semifinal, chasing Adma-Opco's 160 all out in 24.3 Takreer were almost eliminated. However at 104 for 8, Junaid-ur-Rehman scored an unbeaten 39 and his ninth wicket stand of 56 runs with Nadeem Athar (9) helped Takreer enter the final.

Adma-Opco also yielded 44 extras which was higher than Junaid's 39 and in the end Takreer prevailed with three balls to spare.
Earlier S.G Prasad (48) and Wasim Rashid (49) starred in Adma-Opco's batting display.

Summarised scores:
Semifinals: Gasco beat Adgas by five runs. Gasco: 202 for 9 in 25 overs (Surya Rao 31, Naseer Ahmed 93, Noor-ul-Haq 2 for 35, Nilanga Tissera 2 for 21) Adgas: 197 for 7 in 25 overs (C.K Ananthram 31, Kamran Rafique 57, S.G Sitaram 46, Ameer Rafique 2 for 41, Surya Rao 2 for 28)
Takreer beat Adma-Opco by one wicket. Adma-Opco: 160 in 24.3 overs (S.G Prasad 48, Wasim Rashid 49, Umesh Pai 2 for 33, Murtaza Niaz 2 for 17) Takreer: 161 for 9 in 24.3 overs (Junaid Ur Rehman 39 n.o, Nandana Daminder 3 for 22, Ilyas Butt 2 for 28, Wasim Rashid 2 for 20)
Final: Gasco beat Takreer by 22 runs Gasco: 157 for 9 in 30 overs (Mohammed Salim 32, Majeed Qadeer 25, Sana-ur-rehman 29 n.o, Fahad Mujeeb 4 for 29) Takreer: 135 all out in 28.2 overs (Abdul Raouf 48, Siddique Ahmed 20, Naseer Ahmed 2 for 13, Surya Rao 2 for 15, Mohammed Salim 2 for 25). Man of match: Mohammed Salim Baji.