PCA clinch Academy Cup

Sensible batting from Nasir Hossain and Mushfiqur Rahim was not good enough for GP-BCB National Cricket Academy (NCA) to turn the table on Pakistan Cricket Academy (PCA) in the Academy Cup final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
The home side's hopes of pulling off a surprise in the final after losing both the league matches were dashed when Nasir Hossain was run out while attempting to take a risky single and Tigers wicketkeeper Mushfiq was dismissed in the next over.
The local Academy side lost their last four wickets for two runs to suffer a 39-run defeat, as they were bundle out for 237 runs in 46.3 overs in reply to Pakistan Academy's 276 which was built around Khurram Manzoor's hundred.
NCA made a bad start in reply to the fighting total when Imrul Kayes was trapped by Anwar Ali in the first over but Shamsur Rahman and Farhad Hossain repaired the early damage by sharing 57 runs for the second wicket before a mini-collapse saw them reach 124-5.
Mushfiq joined in-form Nasir to revive the innings as the pair rotated the strike brilliantly to challenge their opponents before Mushfiq was caught at cover by Ali Asad off Mohammad Amir for 55-ball 56 that featured only three boundaries. Nasir continued his good form with a 67-ball 52 that saw two fours and a six.
Ahmed Shehzad, one of three leg-spinners, was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 35 runs.
Earlier, Raheel Majeed gave the visitors a flying start after captain Khalid Latif decided to bat first. The two openers amassed 62 runs in first ten overs before paceman Mahbubul Alam dismissed him. Raheel hit 43 off 36 balls that contained four boundaries and three sixes.
But NCA would have had the breakthrough much earlier if Farhad Hossain held a simple chance offered at slip by Khurram off Mahbubul Alam when the aggressive batsman was just on seven and the opener took the opportunity with both hands to smash 107 off 141 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes.
But it was the visiting Academy's captain Latif who put the local bowlers to the sword by smashing two fours and five sixes during his blazing 81 made in 79 balls.
Captain and left-arm spinner Mehrab Hossain captured three wickets for 59 runs in 10 overs.
The two teams will travel to Bogra today to play two-match four-day matches at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium.
SCORES IN BRIEF
PAKISTAN CRICKET ACADEMY: 276 for six in 50 overs (Raheel 43, Khurram 107, Shehzad 31, Khalid 81, Asad 2 not out, Naeem 1, Anwar 2, Amir 0 not out, extras 9; Mahbubul 1-58, Shuvo 1-42, Dollar 1-53, Mehrab 3-59).
NATIONAL CRICKET ACADEMY: 237 all out in 46.3 overs (Imrul 4, Shamsur 37, Farhad 26, Nadif 7, Mehrab 22, Nasir 52, Mushfiqur 56, Dollar 7, Shuvo 5, Mahbubul 0, Nazmul 3 not out, extras 18; Anwar 2-44, Amir 1-42, Yasir 2-35, Imad 1-50, Shehzad 3-35).
Result: Pakistan Cricket Academy won by 39 runs.
Man-of-the-match: Khurram Manzoor.
Man-of-the-series: Khalid Latif.