Customs beat National Bank by four wickets to clinch Patron's Trophy

Pakistan Customs lifted the Patron's Trophy after knocking off the required 155 runs for the loss of six wickets on the fourth day of the final against National Bank, played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

National Bank did go down in the match, but not until putting up a valiant fight in which they took four Customs wickets on the morning of the penultimate day of the five-day final.

Starting the day at 51 for two, still requiring 104 more runs to claim the ultimate honours, Customs lost their third wicket at 68. Nasim Khan, the top scorer in the Customs first innings could make 14 in the second before being adjudged lbw off the bowling of Zahid Saeed.

Aamer Bashir who made 70 in the first innings, stabilized the Customs innings, getting a fine 37 (52 balls, 6 fours) while adding 27 for the fourth wicket with Naved Latif. However, with the departure of Naved at the personal score of 12, the balance of the match tilted slightly in National Bank's way as their bowlers claimed three wickets, including that of Aamer Bashir, with the addition of 16 runs, reducing Customs to 111 for 6.

At this juncture, Ali Naqvi combined with the wicket keeper Wasim Yousufi to knock of the remaining runs without any further casualty. Ali remained not out on 41 (47 ball, 9 fours) while Wasim made an unbeaten 9 (15 balls, 1 four).

Shabbir Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets for 42 in 17 overs. Zahid Saeed also claimed three wicket giving away 85 runs.