KRL's defeat gives Habib Bank Patrons Trophy title
A round-up of the fourth day of the Quadrangular stage round three of the Patron's Trophy
19-Dec-2006
Habib Bank claimed their eighth Patron's Trophy Cricket Championship title, as Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) defeated Khan Research Laboratories by four wickets on the final day at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Sports Complex Stadium.
Needing 95 runs to win, WAPDA wrapped up the match early after finishing on 100 for 6. Shoaib Akhtar, playing his first game since his doping ban was lifted, made amends for a wicketless first innings with an inspired spell that fetched him 3 for 33 in nine overs. Yasir Arafat took 2 for 60 off his eight but the target was too little to defend. WAPDA coasted home and took their first nine points. KRL's total also remained at nine after their three matches.
Habib Bank had beaten Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) in just two days by an innings and 20 runs, to raise their overall points tally to 18 after three matches. A win for KRL here would also have taken their total to 18 points. If they had gone up to 18 points, they might have taken the Patron's Trophy honours as their net run-rate before the start of the last round was better than Habib Bank's.
Since the introduction of the Patron's Trophy competition in 1972-73, a total of 29 editions have been played which were adjudged first-class. Of these, Habib Bank have won the most -- eight, Karachi and National Bank six each, Agriculture Develpment Bank of Pakistan (ADBP) -- now known as ZTBL -- four and Pakistan Railways, Allied Bank, United Bank and Pakistan Customs one each.
Habib Bank also shared the Patron's Trophy with Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in 2004-05, when the final could not be completed due to bad weather. National Bank won the title in 2005-06 but were dethroned before the Quadrangular Stage this season.
The top individual performers in the tournament were Afaq Rahim of ZTBL who scored 410 runs (ave 37.27) with five half-centuries (highest 93) in seven matches and Mohammad Khalil also of ZTBL who took 34 wickets (ave 16.17) with a best of 6 for 44.