To celebrate 75 years of Pakistani independence, the Scottish Pakistani community arranged a special T20 cricket match at Meikleriggs, the home of top Western Union side Ferguslie CC, last Sunday, and the larger than usual crowd were treated to a hugely entertaining match featuring the cream of Pakistani cricket in Scotland, between a Scottish Pakistani XI and a Pakistan Pros X1, as part of a number of events arranged nationally to celebrate the anniversary.
The ”home” team, featuring several Ferguslie players such as Haroon Tahir, Taimoor Ahmad and Qasim Khan, batted first but were soon in trouble as they lost two early wickets to be 36 for 2 in the 4th over, but Clydesdale’s Imran Mughall took matters in hand and in a ferocious 5th over battered no lass than 28 runs, comprising FOUR sixes and a four, to have the scoreboard racing to 64 for two in the 5th over, with various fielders attempting to negotiate the traffic outside to safely retrieving the ball after another maximum. Mughall continued to dominate the innings and went on to score a magnificent 115, including nine sixes, before being caught in the deep, going for another big hit, in the 14th over. The scoreboard continued to tick over at a steady pace but with wickets falling at a steady rate the Scottish X1 were eventually bowled out for 162 to give their opponents a target of just over eight runs per over to lift the trophy.
The Pakistan Pros X1 opened steadily and didn’t lose a wicket until the 6th over, with the total on 32. Just as Mughall had done in the first innings for the Scottish Pakistani X1, Muhaymen Majeed from Normanmby Hall CC was dominating the scoring for the Pakistani Pros, and with regular support from his partners at the other end the score had reached 69 for two after 10 overs and 98 for 4 after 15 overs, still leaving the Pros with a lot of work to do to reach a winning total of 163, but with wickets in hand to allow them to accelerate in the final 5 overs. This they achieved, reaching the final 6 balls needing ten for victory. With one ball remaining, but with his team for the day still needing 6 to win, Majeed launched himself at the final delivery, however the ball appeared to be heading for a man on the boundary, and as it descended from the sky the unfortunate fielder failed to make the catch, and, in doing so, knocked the ball on the full over the ropes to gives the batters the six they needed for what had seemed an unlikely victory, and left Majeed four runs short of what would have been a fine century, although securing victory for his side.
The spectators were the real winners on the day, however, as the forecast rain stayed away, and a feast of cricket saw over 300 runs scored in an afternoon with no complaints from the spectators present.