Khalid Usman Shines as Markhor IT Clinches President’s Trophy Grade-I Title

At the historic Bagh-e-Jinnah in Lahore, Markhor IT (MIT Solutions) won the President’s Trophy Grade-I final by defeating State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) by 51 runs on Friday. SBP were set a target of 237 but were bowled out for 185 on the final morning, with Khalid Usman playing the decisive role through a four-wicket haul. He finished with figures of 4/38 in 16.5 overs, applying pressure throughout and closing out the match for his side. SBP resumed the final day at 165/7, needing 72 more runs with three wickets in hand. The equation was not impossible, but Markhor IT’s bowlers kept the scoring rate under control and struck at regular intervals. Mohammad Abbas was the first to go, scoring six off 30 deliveries with one boundary. Mohammad Ismaeel then dismissed the well-set Mubashir Khan, who made 32 off 56 balls with three fours. Khalid Usman completed the victory by removing Kashif Bhatti for two, ending SBP’s resistance at 185. Ismaeel claimed two wickets, while Aamer Jamal and Salman Aslam took one each. The bowling effort was collective rather than dependent on one spell, which proved crucial in a final where every run mattered. SBP’s last three wickets could add only 20 runs on the final morning, and that proved to be the difference between the two sides. Earlier, Markhor IT resumed their second innings at 273/7 on the third day, with Aamer Jamal and Salman Aslam at the crease. They added only 23 runs before being bowled out for 296 in 74.5 overs. Jamal top-scored with a determined 55 off 81 deliveries, including seven boundaries. The all-rounder had already made a major impact with the ball in the first innings, claiming a seven-wicket haul. His contribution in both departments gave Markhor IT the balance they needed in the final. For SBP, Mohammad Abbas was the pick of the bowlers with 5/70 in 18 overs. Sirajuddin claimed three wickets, while Shahid Aziz and Kashif Bhatti took one each. Despite Abbas’s five-wicket haul, Markhor IT’s lower order added valuable runs, taking the total from 273 to 296. In a low-scoring final, those extra runs assumed great importance. Chasing 237, SBP made a steady start as openers Hasan Raza and Abdullah Fazal put together 49 runs. Salman Aslam broke the partnership in the 20th over by dismissing Fazal for 25 off 68 deliveries. Hasan then shared useful partnerships with Faham-ul-Haq and Kamran Ghulam, who contributed 13 and 16 respectively. However, Ghulam’s dismissal by Jamal in the 41st over triggered a collapse. SBP lost five wickets in quick succession, including that of Hasan, and slumped to 147/7. Hasan remained SBP’s leading run-scorer with a fighting 73 off 136 balls, hitting eight boundaries. His innings kept the chase alive for a long time, but he lacked sustained support from the other end. Mubashir Khan tried to revive the chase and built an unbeaten 17-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Abbas before the close of play on the third day. That stand gave SBP some hope, but on the final morning Markhor IT’s bowlers quickly ended the resistance. The turning point was the dismissal of Kamran Ghulam in the 41st over. Until then, SBP had a platform, with Hasan holding one end and the middle order trying to build partnerships. Once Ghulam fell, the innings lost its shape. Markhor IT’s bowlers maintained disciplined lines, and the required run rate continued to climb. Hasan’s wicket further damaged SBP’s chances, and the lower order could not take the team across the line. Khalid Usman’s spell was the standout bowling performance of the final morning. He bowled 16.5 overs and conceded only 38 runs while taking four wickets. His control prevented SBP from scoring freely and allowed Markhor IT to keep attacking fields. Ismaeel’s dismissal of Mubashir was also crucial, as the batter had looked capable of guiding the chase deeper. Jamal and Salman provided the supporting breakthroughs that kept the pressure on. For Markhor IT, the title was the result of a complete team performance. The first-innings bowling effort, led by Jamal’s seven-wicket haul, kept SBP in check. The second innings produced 296, with Jamal’s fifty and useful contributions from the lower order. Then, on the final day, the bowlers finished the job. The victory by 51 runs reflected both the margin and the control Markhor IT had at key moments. SBP had positives to take from the final. Mohammad Abbas bowled with experience and precision, taking five wickets. Sirajuddin supported him with three wickets. Hasan Raza’s 73 was a display of patience and responsibility. Mubashir’s 32 and Fazal’s 25 were useful, but no one apart from Hasan was able to make a really substantial score. In the end, SBP fell 52 runs short of the target, and their last three wickets could add only 20 runs on the final morning. The match also underlined the importance of lower-order runs in finals. Markhor IT’s last three wickets added 23 runs on the third day, taking the score to 296. Those runs proved decisive. SBP’s lower order, by contrast, could not provide the same support. In a match where the target was 237, the difference of 51 runs was built on small but important contributions throughout the game. Aamer Jamal’s all-round performance was one of the highlights of the final. He took seven wickets in the first innings and scored 55 in the second. Such contributions give a team balance and allow the captain to use bowlers with greater freedom. Jamal’s ability to contribute with both bat and ball made him a central figure in Markhor IT’s title-winning campaign. Khalid Usman’s experience was equally important. On the final morning, with three wickets needed and SBP still hoping for a comeback, he did not allow the batters to settle. His four-wicket haul sealed the match and ensured that Markhor IT did not have to endure a tense finish. His figures of 4/38 in 16.5 overs were a model of control in a pressure situation. Markhor IT’s victory was celebrated as a team achievement. The bowlers shared the workload, the batters contributed at different stages, and the lower order added crucial runs. In a final, such collective effort is often more valuable than individual brilliance. Markhor IT had both: individual performances from Khalid, Jamal, Ismaeel and Salman, and a team effort that lasted across all four days. SBP will look back at the final with disappointment but also with lessons. Their start was solid, and Hasan’s innings gave them a chance. However, the middle-order collapse and the failure of the lower order to stay with the set batter proved costly. Mohammad Abbas’s five-wicket haul and Sirajuddin’s three wickets showed that the bowling attack had the ability to trouble Markhor IT, but the batting could not complete the job. The final at Bagh-e-Jinnah added another competitive chapter to Pakistan’s domestic cricket. Markhor IT’s 51-run win was built on disciplined bowling, useful lower-order runs and the ability to seize key moments. Khalid Usman’s four-wicket haul on the final morning was the decisive blow, while Aamer Jamal’s all-round display provided the foundation. SBP fought through Hasan Raza and Mubashir Khan, but Markhor IT had the answers when it mattered most.