Sialkot, Lahore Whites register wins in National T20

KARACHI: Sialkot and Lahore Whites registered one-sided victories, while Abbottabad and Islamabad had to fight in winning their respective group games of the ongoing National T20 Cup at various grounds here on Monday.

In the first match at the NBP Sports Complex, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) batted first against Sialkot, and were all out for just 59 in 18.2 overs. Naveed Malik (24) was the top scorer. For Sialkot, Usman Khalid took four wickets for 13 runs. Usama Mir picked a couple of wickets. Mohammad Abbas and Bilal Asif took one scalp a piece.

Sialkot chased down the target (60-1) in 6 overs with Mirza Tahir Baig scoring 27 not out. Usman Yousaf took the only wicket for AJK. At the HPC Oval Ground, Abbottabad defeated Faisalabad by six wickets. Batting first, Faisalabad scored 143 runs for the loss of 10 wickets in 20 overs. Abdul Samad (47), Muhammad Irfan Khan (33), Asif Ali (21) were the leading scorers. Shahab Khan took two key scalps for 22 runs. Adil Naz also picked two. Kamran Ghulam and leg-spinner Yasir Shah both picked a wicket each.

Abbottabad chased the target (144-4) in 18.3 overs. Kamran Ghulam (62 not out), Mohammad Arif (24), Shahab Khan (22 not out) were successful batters. Sadaqat Ali took 2-17.

Islamabad defeated Hyderabad by 10 runs at the UBL Sports Complex. Islamabad batting first scored 153-3 in 20 overs. Sarmad Bhatti’s 56-run knock was the innings’ highlight, while Hammad Siddique managed 27 and Ali Imran scored 25 runs. Asad Malik Daniyal Hussain Rajput and Mustafa Nasir picked one scalp each.

In response Hyderabad scored 143-7 in 20 overs as the opponent bowlers did well in the death overs. Mohammad Suleman (62) and Tayyab Ali Shah (31) were the leading scorers. For Islamabad, Umair Afridi took 3-22 and Haris Rauf 3-29.

Lahore Whites outclassed Quetta by nine wickets at the National Bank Stadium. Quetta batted first and scored 132 for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (79), Salahuddin (22) were their notable scorers.

Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Amir Khan took two wickets each for Lahore Whites. Lahore Whites reached the target for the loss of one wicket in 12 overs. Ahmed Shehzad (81) and Muhammad Akhlaq (44 not out) were successful batsmen. Hanan Achakzai took 1-23.