Manzoor Akhtar clicked at the right time when his allround performance helped defending champions Allied Bank beat Habib Bank by 26 runs and qualify for the semifinals of the 17th National One-day Championship to be played at Sheikhupura.
In a do-or-die fixture, Allied Bank rattled 242 for nine in 50 overs and then skittled the six-time former champions for 216 in 47.1 overs.
Manzoor Akhtar, who has represented Pakistan at international level, scored an invaluable 57 and then picked up three wickets for 34 runs to win the Man-of-the-Match award. Manzoor had been inducted into the bowling attack when Ramiz Raja was left with no other option after his five frontline bowlers had been severely punished by Habib Bank openers.
Manzoor struck eight boundaries in his 60 balls innings.
But the most enterprising and match-winning innings came from the willow from Ata-ur-Rahman, who while batting at No 9, hammered five boundaries and two sixes in his 37-ball unbeaten 52.
It was purely Rahman's efforts that lifted Allied Bank from 186 for eight in 41 overs to 242 for nine in 50 overs.
Allied Bank's innings was put on the right track by a 69-run second wicket partnership between Wajahatullah and Ramiz Raja. Wajahatullah struck four fours and a six in his 94-ball 53 while Raja's 32 from 48 balls included five fours.
Salim Malik was the pick of Habib Bank bowlers with three for 35 from 10 overs while Sajid Shah bagged two for 38 and Shahid Mahboob snapped up two for 46. Akram Raza also claimed a couple of wickets but was hit around by Ataur Rahman in slog overs to concede 61 runs from his nine overs.
Habib Bank, in the target chase, started solidly when Salim Elahi and Shakeel Ahmad put on 89 runs for the opening wicket. The score was taken to 148 by Shakeel and Mujahid Jamsheed before off-spinner Arshad Khan got his acts together to destroy Habib Bank middle-order.
The crafty off-spinner captured four wickets for 16 runs in 9.1 overs to turn out Habib Bank's tormentor-in-chief. Manzoor Akhtar extended full support to finish with three for 34, including the prized scalp of in-form Salim Malik who scored 21 off 28 balls.
Salim Elahi blasted 11 boundaries in his rapid 49-ball 54 while Shakeel Ahmad's 63 came off 101 balls which included seven hits to the fence.