QASAR KHAN was the star performer as Azaad won the CG Autos Allsop Cup for the third time in five years.
Khan batted through to finish on 64 not out and take the man of the match award as they overhauled Cartworth Moor’s 144 all out total with six wickets in hand at Penistone.
It was eventually a comfortable victory for Azaad, who had been pushed all the way to the last over in a thrilling semi-final against Almondbury Wesleyans, although they did have to recover from 66-4 as Andrew Mitchell picked up three for 37 and Tom Chadwick one for 21.
Cartworth Moor – bidding to put their name on the trophy for the first time since 1939 – made a useful start but failed to use up their overs and were all out for 144.
After opener Chadwick had made 20, Paul Girardi (41) and Aussie Mitch (29) pushed the Moor along but, after them, only Jake Clayton made double figures with 22.
Nazaqat Hussain was the pick of the Azaad bowlers with four for 30 from 12 overs, while Imran Mahboob had three for 25 from seven.
The other successful bowlers were Zahid Shah with two for 16 and Sheryar Noor who had one for 24.
With Khan anchoring the reply, Azaad hit a little bit of trouble until Mahboob joined him in an unbroken stand of 82 which took them to victory, Mahboob finishing on 44 not out.
Azaad had warmed up for the final with an 83-run victory over Wesleyans in the arrowselfdrive.com Central League Premier Section programme.
Opponents Moor clearly had their minds elsewhere as Thornhill & Westborough piled up 228-8, but the Holme Valley side got some useful batting practice before closing on 172-7.
Woodfield Park extended their lead at the summit of Section A with a five-point victory at Heck & Carl.
Mount bowled out second-placed Crigglestone for only 43 before completing a nine-wicket victory.
