KARACHI: Test opener Sami Aslam hit an unbeaten fifty to guide Islamabad to their first win of the event when they defeated FATA by seven wickets in their National T20 Cup match at Multan Stadium in Multan on Wednesday.
On Tuesday night Karachi Whites produced their third win when they overpowered Lahore Blues by three wickets thanks to stumper Mohammad Hassan’s superb batting in the last over.
Sami smashed unbeaten 60 off 50 balls as Islamabad chased the 140-run target with six balls to spare after losing three wickets.
Earlier, Islamabad’s bowlers made a terrific effort to restrict FATA to 139-4.
Sami, who was impressive in the recent Test series against England, became the hero of Islamabad who had lost their previous four outings.
The 20-year-old left-hander batted responsibly and provided a 50 runs start off 37 balls with Afaq Raheem, who hammered 24-ball 26 with five hits to the fence.
After Imam-ul-Haq (12) fell, Sami put on 42 off 38 balls for the third wicket association with Peshawar-born Adil Amin, who was dislodged by medium-pacer Aamer Yamin. The right-hander struck 20-ball 19 with a couple of fours.
At that stage Islamabad were 115-3 in 17 overs. They required 25 runs from three overs and Sami, together with Ali Sarfraz (8*), raced to the target in the penultimate over.
Sami, who completed his fifty off 46 balls, smacked four fours and a six in his match-winning knock. Mohammad Irfan grabbed 2-19 in three overs.
After electing to bat first FATA lost an early wicket when Test seamer Junaid Khan removed Mohammad Usman (0). However, Umar Siddiq (51) and Test discard Yasir Hameed (24) shared 44 off 33 balls for the second wicket to pave the way for a defendable total.
Yasir was bowled by Adil Amin after he had cracked three fours from 28 balls.
Bilal Asif (16) tried to accelerate the innings but was removed by Zohaib Ahmed, leaving FATA at 80-3 in 12 overs.
Khushdil Shah (31*) and Umar added 54 runs off 45 balls for the fourth wicket.
Umar, who got run out in the last over, hit four fours and a six from 47 balls.
Khushdil struck four fours in his 27-ball unbeaten knock.
Junaid (1-16), Zohaib (1-26) and Adil Amin (1-25) were the successful bowlers.
Sami was declared man of the match.
On Tuesday Karachi Whites snatched a much-needed win against Lahore Blues to stay alive in the eight-team affair.
Chasing 143, Karachi Whites required 13 off the last over from spinner Hafiz Saad Nasim. Faraz Ahmed (2*) took a single off the first ball to give the strike to keeper Mohammad Hasan (41*) who hit three successive fours to take his side home with two balls to spare. Hasan smashed nine fours from 21 balls.
Earlier, Zain Abbas (32) and Danish Aziz (30) had done well to pave the way for a successful chase.
Zafar Gohar and Ahmed Bashir took two wickets each.
Asif Raza hammered 34-ball 44 with three sixes and two fours to enable Lahore Blues to post 142-8.
Asif shared 65 runs for the fifth wicket with Reza Ali Dar, who hit three fours and a six from 24 balls. On Thursday (today) Karachi Whites face Rawalpindi and Karachi Blues meet Peshawar.