Misbah, Iftikhar star in Islamabad win

By Alam Zeb Safi

April 21, 2016

KARACHI: Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq and Iftikhar Ahmed shared a century partnership while Under-19 all-rounder Shadab Khan batted sensibly to enable Islamabad to beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by two wickets on D/L method in their opening day-night match of Pakistan Cup 2016 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, on Wednesday.

Misbah (82) and Iftikhar (48) shared 103 for the fourth wicket as Islamabad chased the revised victory target of 201 with five balls to spare after losing eight wickets.

Islamabad needed two off the last over from Fahim Ashraf when Shadab Khan (33*) hit the pacer for a straight six to bring in a well-deserved victory. Shadab hammered two fours and a six from 29 balls.

Earlier, Younis Khan led from the front with a fine 61 to guide KP to 212 all out in the 47th over.

Chasing a revised target of 201 off 43 overs due to loss of a few overs for various reasons, Islamabad had a disastrous start when left-arm pacer Zia-ul-Haq removed Kamran Akmal (4) in the second over. His new ball partner Fahim Ashraf in the next over had dangerous Sharjeel Khan (1) caught splendidly by Yasir Shah who dived full length at short cover.

Zia multiplied Islamabad’s miseries when he removed experienced international Nasir Jamshed (2), held nicely by Zohaib Khan at deep square-leg.

Islamabad were in deep trouble with just nine for the loss of three key wickets in four overs.

Left-arm spinner Zohaib Khan gave the vital breakthrough to KP when he dislodged well-set Iftikhar for 48, held smartly by Ahmed Shehzad just inches off the ground while fielding at cover. The right-hander, who played with great responsibility, struck four fours and a six over mid-wicket off Fahim. Iftikhar faced 67 balls. off his next ball, Zohaib bowled left-hander Imran Khalid (0) to make the game evenly poised. Islamabad were 112-5 in 25.2 overs.

International all-rounder Hammad Azam joined Misbah and both played with application to take the total 153 when Zohaib sent back Hammad (17), stumped by agile gloveman Bismillah Khan.

Hammad’s knock which came off 25 balls included a six which he hit off Zohaib.

Misbah and Pakistan Under-19 all-rounder Shadab played sensibly and took the score to 178 before Misbah needlessly ran himself out for 82 in the 40th over. Misbah, who survived two tough chances on 64 and 71, hammered eight fours and a six from 104 deliveries. Mohammad Sami scored valuable 12 off eight balls to bring his side close to win. Sami, who was caught by left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar off his own bowling, struck two fours.

Zohaib Khan got 3-36 while Zia-ul-Haq claimed 2-28.

After opting to bat first under warm conditions, Pakistan’s experienced opener Ahmed Shehzad (31) and left-handed Fakhar Zaman (45) provided a solid 76 runs opening stand to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Paceman Mohammad Abbas gave a breakthrough to Islamabad when he removed Shehzad through a short delivery outside the off-stump. Shehzad went for a cut but edged it to stumper Kamran Akmal. Shehzad struck three fours from 43 balls.

Skipper Younis Khan (61) joined Fakhar and took the score to 99 in the 20th over before the latter got run out by young Shadab while taking a risky single.

Fakhar, who was in fine touch, hammered four fours and a six from 55 balls. He took 21 runs off the first over from Imran Khalid, in which he hit a glorious six over long-off.

Younis dominated the 55 runs third wicket stand with Rameez Aziz (12) before Shadab once again did a fine job to get Rameez run out. Younis nudged a ball from Khalid towards off-side, Ramiz wanted a single, was sent back by the skipper and was well short of his crease when Shadab’s throw hit the stumps.

KP were 154-3 in 29.2 overs. KP faced a huge collapse as they lost their last seven wickets for 58 runs. International all-rounder Hammad Azam sent Younis back in the next over, caught nicely by Iftikhar Ahmed at deep mid-wicket.

The former Pakistan captain smacked six fours and a six in his run-a-ball knock.

Hammad had Bismillah Khan (9) and Zohaib Khan (4) in quick succession to leave KP reeling at 173-6 in 34.3 overs.

Fahim (5) got run out before Kamran stumped Yasir Shah (6) off Shadab Khan. Sami had Zia (10) and Abbas dislodged Mohammad Asghar (17) as KP were folded for 212 in 46.1 overs. Asghar smacked one six and one four from 15 balls.

Hammad was the pick of the bowlers with 3-23 in seven overs. He was ably assisted by Abbas with 2-20 from 6.1 overs.

Shozab Raza and Rashid Riaz supervised the match. Mohammad Sajid served as the television umpire and Riazuddin as the reserve umpire. Aziz-Ur-Rehman was the match referee.

On Thursday (today), Sindh face Balochistan in another vital show. Balochistan on Tuesday beat Punjab by 12 runs.

Score Board

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won toss

Islamabad won by 2 wickets

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Ahmed Shehzad c Kamran b Abbas 31

Fakhar Zaman run out 45

*Younis Khan c Iftikhar b Hammad 61

Rameez Aziz run out 12

Zohaib Khan c Kamran b Hammad 4

†Bismillah Khan c Sharjeel b Hammad 9

Fahim Ashraf run out 5