Unity and team spirit helped Kanoo Finance outplay Kanoo Freight by 68 runs in the final and lift the 15th Kanoo Inter-Division Cup for the third time. Despite losing a wicket in the third over Finance started briskly with Thabrez taking most of the strike and Rafique Ahmed giving him admirable support. Thabrez stole the show hitting the first ball to the boundary and kept on going from strength to strength. He hit 9 fours and 10 sixes in his superb knock of 126 – his maiden century in Kanoo tournament. After the departure of Thabrez Sami Khan came in and smashed a 13-ball fifty with 8 sixes – the fastest in Kanoo history and remained unbeaten on 64 off 18 balls with 9 sixes and a four. At the other end Rafiq played the sheet anchor role to perfection for a well made unbeaten 42. Freight bowlers had no answer to Finance batsmen. Only Raees and Imran picked one wicket each. Finance posted a mammoth 261 in 20 overs. In response, Freight openers Oliver 13 and Imran 57 (2 fours and 4 sixes) played sensibly and put on a fine partnership of 76 in 8 overs before falling. Skipper Jayasuriya (29) along with Nasser (17), Raees (23) and Hameen (20) had useful contributions but the writing was on the wall for Freight as it started losing wickets at regular intervals. It ended on 193 in 20 overs as Jerome ran though with figures of 4-25 and was supported by skipper Sami Khan who picked 2 vital wickets for 30. Nabil and Sureshclaimed one wicket each. Man of the Match: Thabrez of Finance. Maersk Line and Travel contested for the third position. Put in to bat, Maersk Line openers Kamran (47) and Nabil Rana (17) played some interesting strokes. Later in-form Nawab (27), Ashfaque (29) and hard hitter Asad Khan (49) were involved in good partnerships to enable Maersk set an uphill task of 200 runs in 15 overs. Travel bowlers Robin and Aleem got one wicket each. Travel batsmen Arif (10), Shammiraj (10), Ranil (15) played well but it was the old war horse Nayaz who played a stellar role to remain unbeaten on 47 and give a good fightback but Ashfaque (3-24) rocked the Travel boat and along with Shamun, Ikram and Nabil Rana restricted it to 176 and clinch the 3rd place trophy. Man of the Match: Ashfaque of Maersk Line. Chief guest Ahmed Fawzi, Kanoo Area Manager, WP, appreciated all those who had organized the tournament. He assured all employees of the support of Kanoo management in future. Also present was JCA President Mohammed Iqbal who appreciated the support given by Kanoo management to encourage it employees. Special awards: Best batsmen – Nawab of Maersk and Oliver of Freight; best bowlers – Ashfaque of Maersk and Ranil of Travel; best all-rounders – Sami and Thabrez of Finance; maximum catches – Aleem of Travel and Indika of Finance; fastest fifty – Sami of Finance; century – Thabrez and Sami of Finance; hat trick – Mushtaq of Freight.
