Zubair's fire not enough

A colossal performance from Mohammed Zubair could not deny Pakistan Association victory in the Sunday League yesterday at DBS.

Zubair took seven wickets, his second successive five-wicket haul, as Little Sai Wan bowled Pakistan Association out for 208. But his former club were equal to the challenge as they bundled out Sai Wan for 172 to clinch a deserved 36-run victory.

'It is a happy day for me. We wanted to win this match badly and it is also my birthday,' said elated Pakistan Association skipper Sada Hussain who turned 34.

There was no doubt about the highly charged nature of the game. Zubair's defection to Sai Wan is virtually seen as an act of treason by the Pakistan Association.

A large section of their fans, who were silent when Zubair was ripping through the top-order, became vocal later in the innings and branded Zubair a 'traitor' as a 10th-wicket partnership of 52 runs between Khalid Khan and Rafaqat Ali gave Pakistan Association respectability.

Perhaps incensed at the crowd's taunts and frustrated by the last-ditch stand, Zubair unpardonably made a lewd gesture after he bowled Khalid to end the innings.

Boiling point was almost reached as angry Pakistan Association players ran on to the field in protest. But cooler heads, among them Hussain, prevailed and an ugly incident was averted.