Khalid Usman's four wickets help Markhor IT beat State Bank by 51 runs to win President's Trophy

LAHORE: Markhor IT (MIT Solutions) won the President's Trophy Grade-I title by defeating State Bank of Pakistan by 51 runs on the final day of the final at Bagh-e-Jinnah on Friday. Khalid Usman was the key bowler with 4/38 in 16.5 overs as SBP, chasing 237, resumed at 165/7 and were bowled out for 185 in the first session. SBP needed 72 more runs with three wickets in hand, but their lower order could add only 20 runs on the final morning. Mohammad Abbas was the first to depart, scoring six off 30 deliveries with one boundary. Mohammad Ismaeel then dismissed the well-set Mubashir Khan for 32 off 56 balls, including three fours. Khalid Usman completed the victory by dismissing Kashif Bhatti for two, finishing with 4/38 in 16.5 overs. Ismaeel claimed two wickets, while Aamer Jamal and Salman Aslam picked up one each. Earlier, MIT Solutions resumed their second innings at 273/7 on the third day with Aamer Jamal and Salman Aslam at the crease. They added only 23 runs before being bowled out for 296 in 74.5 overs. Jamal top-scored with a determined 55 off 81 deliveries, including seven boundaries. The all-rounder had also starred with the ball in the first innings, claiming a seven-wicket haul. For SBP, Test pacer Mohammad Abbas was the pick of the bowlers with 5/70 in 18 overs. Sirajuddin claimed three wickets, while Shahid Aziz and Kashif Bhatti took one each. MIT's 296 gave them a strong platform, and their bowlers backed it up on the final day. In pursuit of 237, SBP made a steady start as openers Hasan Raza and Abdullah Fazal put together 49 runs. Salman Aslam broke the partnership in the 20th over, dismissing Fazal for 25 off 68 deliveries. Hasan then shared useful partnerships with Faham-ul-Haq and Kamran Ghulam, who contributed 13 and 16 respectively. However, Ghulam's dismissal by Jamal in the 41st over triggered a collapse as SBP lost five wickets in quick succession, including that of Hasan, to slump to 147/7. Hasan remained SBP's leading run-scorer with a fighting 73 off 136 balls, hitting eight boundaries. Mubashir then attempted to revive the chase, building an unbeaten 17-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Abbas before the close of play on the third day. However, SBP's resistance ended on the final morning as MIT Solutions secured the title with a convincing victory. Khalid Usman's four-wicket haul, Aamer Jamal's all-round contribution and Hasan Raza's fighting knock were the main stories of the final. SBP were dismissed for 185 while chasing 237, handing MIT Solutions a 51-run win and the President's Trophy Grade-I crown.