Lahore (Sports Report):
Karachi Region Blues and Islamabad Region secured victories against Larkana Region and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Region respectively on the third day of ABN Developers present University of Lahore National T20 Cup Qualifier on Monday here at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore
Both the teams have strengthened their chances of qualification from Group A after winning back-to-back games with two more games to go for each. Only the table topper will qualify for the final and the main round of the National T20 Cup.
In the first match, after putting Larkana in to bat first, Karachi Region Blues kept their batters in check by picking up wickets at regular intervals removing five batters for 61 runs on the board in nine overs. Only opening batter Malhar Rasool (41, 25b, 6x4s, 1x6) made an impact from the top order.
Coming in to bat at no.7, Larkana skipper Zahid Mehmood top-scored with an unbeaten 48 off 32 deliveries while sharing a 75-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Huzaifa (31, 36b, 3x4s).
No.8 batter Mushtaq Ahmed’s 15 off six deliveries including two sixes at the death meant that Larkana finished their innings on 160-7.
For Karachi, Wahaj Riaz returned figures of 3-0-14-3 including the scalp of Malhar in the ninth over.
In response, Karachi lost opening batter Jahanzaib Sultan (5, 12b, 1x4) in the third over with 12 runs on the board. Top-scorer Ahsan Ali (65, 38b, 5x4s, 4x6s) then put together a 57-run alliance with no.3 batter Muhammad Taha, who also chipped in with a 28-ball 38, hitting six fours and a solitary six.
After losing Taha in the 10th over, Karachi lost three more wickets in quick succession, slipping to 118-5 after 14.4 overs. Wahaj then chipped in with 16 off 14 balls including one four.
With four required from the final over and one off the final ball, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ghazi Ghori pierced the field for a four to seal the win for his side, finishing on an unbeaten 19 off 13 balls, comprising of two fours.
For Larkana, Ali Asghar picked up three wickets for 29 runs in three overs.
In the second game of the day, AJK elected to bat first against Islamabad and made a healthy start with the opening batters putting on a 90-run stand. Husnain Nadeem scored 46 off 29 balls including seven fours, while top-scorer Hasnain Shamir starred with a 49-ball 69, hitting nine fours and two sixes.
No.3 batter Awais Minhas scored 24 off 17 balls, featuring three fours. AJK were given a late push by Arslan Mahzood (12 not out, 6b, 1x4, 1x6) and Aqib Liaqat (18, 5b, 1x4, 2x6s) as they were lifted to 187-5 in their 20 overs.
For Islamabad, Umair Afridi picked up two wickets for 34 runs in his four overs.
In pursuit of the 188-run target, Islamabad were provided a flying start as they raced to 42 in 3.2 overs before opening batter Raja Hamza Waheed (25, 12b, 2x4s, 2x6s) was dismissed by Faizan Saleem (3-0-36-2).
In his subsequent over, Faizan got rid of the second AJK opening batter Ali Imran (21, 16b, 4x4s) as well with 63 runs on the board. Islamabad had accumulated 74 runs for the loss of two wickets at the end of the powerplay.
Top scorer Naseerullah then smashed the fastest half-century of the tournament, scoring 55 off 30 balls, aided by two fours and four sixes.
Naseer also shared a 90-run partnership with skipper Mohammed Umair Riaz (35, 33b, 3x4s) and after latter’s departure, Shahbaz Khan struck two fours and as many sixes in his breezy nine-ball 25. Islamabad chased down the target in 18.5 overs with five wickets in hand and went to the top of the table.
For AJK, Faizan and Saad Asif (3-0-32-2) shared four wickets.
Scores in brief:
Match 5 – Karachi Region Blues beat Larkana Region by three wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Larkana Region 160-7, 20 overs (Zahid Mehmood 48 not out, Malhar Rasool 41, Mohammed Huzaifa 31; Wahaj Riaz 3-14)
Karachi Region Blues 164-7, 20 overs (Ahsan Ali 65, Mohammed Taha 38, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori 19 not out; Ali Asghar 3-29)
Player of the match - Wahaj Riaz (Karachi Region Blues)
Match 6 – Islamabad Region beat AJK Region by five wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
AJK Region 187-5, 20 overs (Hasnain Shamir 69, Husnain Nadeem 46, Awais Akram Minhas 24; Umair Afridi 2-34)
Islamabad Region 188-5, 18.5 overs, (Naseerullah Khan 55, Mohammed Umair Riaz 35, Shahbaz Khan 25, Raja Hamza Waheed 25, Ali Imran 21; Saad Asif 2-32, Faizan Saleem 2-36)
Player of the match - Naseerullah Khan (Islamabad Region)
