Khalid Usman's lethal bowling helps Markhor IT win President's Trophy Grade-I title

Lahore: Markhor IT (MIT Solutions) won the President's Trophy Grade-I title after defeating State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) by 51 runs on the final day of the final at Bagh-e-Jinnah on Friday. Khalid Usman starred with four wickets as SBP, chasing 237, resumed at 165/7 and were bowled out for 185 in the first session. Mohammad Abbas was the first to go on the final morning, scoring six off 30 balls with one boundary. Mohammad Ismaeel then dismissed the well-set Mubashir Khan for 32 off 56 balls, including three fours. Khalid Usman completed the win by removing Kashif Bhatti for two, finishing with 4/38 in 16.5 overs. Ismaeel took two wickets, while Aamer Jamal and Salman Aslam picked up one each. Earlier, Markhor IT resumed their second innings at 273/7 on the third day and were bowled out for 296 in 74.5 overs. Aamer Jamal top-scored with 55 off 81 balls, hitting seven boundaries. He had also taken seven wickets in the first innings. For SBP, Mohammad Abbas returned 5/70 in 18 overs, while Sirajuddin claimed three wickets and Shahid Aziz and Kashif Bhatti took one each. In reply, SBP openers Hasan Raza and Abdullah Fazal added 49 runs before Salman Aslam broke the stand in the 20th over, dismissing Fazal for 25 off 68 balls. Hasan shared useful partnerships with Faham-ul-Haq and Kamran Ghulam, who made 13 and 16 respectively. However, Kamran Ghulam's dismissal by Jamal in the 41st over triggered a collapse as SBP lost five quick wickets, including Hasan, to slip to 147/7. Hasan top-scored for SBP with 73 off 136 balls, including eight fours. Mubashir Khan and Mohammad Abbas added an unbeaten 17-run eighth-wicket stand before stumps on the third day, but SBP's resistance ended on the final morning. Markhor IT sealed the title with a convincing 51-run victory.