Pak – I – Care prevented Cataluyna CC doing an ECS double on finals day and were crowned Champions of ECS Barcelona II in the process.
However, things could have been so much different if Badalona Shaheen could have found an extra three runs in the first game of the day. Chasing 131 for victory Shaheen looked to be on course for victory with Babar Khan firing on all cylinders. However a couple of wickets and several dot balls at the business end of the game by Atif Muhammad curtailed Badalona´s charge and they fell agonisingly short of the needed total. Babar Khan ended on 71 not out but that will be of little comfort to the Shaheen star, as it was Pak-I-Care that progressed to the final.
Cataluyna CC found things a lot easier in the other semi final. Initally struggling at 28 for two they recovered well thanks to Yasir Ali (74 not out) and Ibrar Hussain (32 not out) to post a powerful score of 131 for two. The Tigers had a dreadful start and were reeling at 28 for six after just 26 balls. They never looked at ease at the crease and only Ghulam Dastgeer made double figures. They finally were bowled out for 66 to lose by 65 runs.
The bronze match proved to be a consolation for Shaheen, who edged out the Tigers in an exciting contest. Tigers put a respectable 121 for two on the board with opener Shahid Bhatti hitting an unbeaten 71. In reply, Shaheen were even more potent with the bat and in Hamza Saleem they had their match winner. He blasted 60 off just 32 balls to give his side the perfect start. Malik Ur Rehman continued were Bhatti left off and scored 36 not out to see his team home with two balls to spare.
Unfortunately, the final was a little bit of an anticlimax as Pak-I-Care steamrolled over Cataluyna. The new champions scored 89 for two in just 33 balls to overcome the paltry score of 85 that Cataluyna had set them. Congratulations to Pak-I-Care on a tournament win that was well deserved.
Tomorrow is the start of a new series with the four semi finalists playing in a three day round robin. Cataluyna will not have to wait long to try and gain revenge as the two teams square up in the very first game of the event. Thanks to all involved for making Barcelona II another very successful tournament.