Southern beat MCC by 9 wickets
LAHORE: A quickfire 64 from Ali Imran and two wickets apiece from Mubasir Khan and Munir Riaz helped Northern to a nine-run win over Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) here on Monday at Aitchison College ground. After being put into bat, Northern, the domestic T20 champions, scored 152 for five in 20 overs. Opening batsman Ali top-scored with a 43-ball 64, laced with eight fours and two sixes. Sarmad Bhatti, the second highest run-getter in Northern’s innings, contributed 25 off 21 balls, hitting two sixes. Ravi Bopara was the pick of the bowlers for the MCC taking three wickets for 14 runs in four overs. In their reply, the MCC continued to lose wickets and were 74 for fours at one stage. Samit Patel and Ross Whiteley put a 40-run partnership for the fifth-wicket, but it went in vain as the MCC were restricted to 143 for seven in 20 overs. Samit, the right-handed batsman, top-scored with an unbeaten 39 off 35 balls, hitting one four and two sixes, while Whiteley chipped in with a 18-ball 21. For Northern, Mubasir Khan and Munir Riaz grabbed two wickets apiece for 24 and 21, respectively. The MCC will play their last match on the tour against Multan Sultans, one of the six franchises of HBL PSL, in a 20-over contest at the Aitchison College ground on Wednesday. Scores in brief: Northern 152-5, 20 overs (Ali Imran 64, Sarmad Bhatti 25; Ravi Bopara 3-14) Marylebone Cricket Club 143-7, 20 overs (Samit Patel 39 not out, Ross Whiteley 21; Mubasir Khan 2-24, Munir Riaz 2-21) Result: Northern won by nine runs The visiting team won its opening match of the tour against Lahore Qalandars by six wickets. It was their second back-to-back defeat as Pakistan Southern team outplayed them by five wickets. – APP