Ahsan, Asad power Karachi Whites to second victory

KARACHI: Ahsan Ali and Test cricketer Asad Shafiq hit fantastic fifties to power Karachi Whites to their second victory from four outings when they defeated Islamabad by 44 runs in the National T20 Cup 2016 game at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi on Friday night.

Ahsan (85) and Asad (73*) guided Karachi Whites to 182-2 before fast bowler Tabish Khan and spinner Faraz Ahmed took two wickets each to restrict Islamabad to 138-8.

After being invited to bat, Karachi Whites had a brittle start when they lost left-handed opener Zain Abbas (10) after facing 18 balls.

But Ahsan and Asad added 128 runs off 75 balls for the second wicket stand to propel Karachi Whites to a safe total.

Ahsan finally was removed by Test seamer Junaid Khan, held nicely by Adil Amin after the right hander had struck 11 fours and two sixes in his 52-ball career-best knock.

Asad, who had been drafted into the side in place of Misbah-ul-Haq who skipped the event due to illness of his father-in-law, was in full flow and hammered ten fours and one six from 46 deliveries.

Junaid captured 1-38. Left-arm Test spinner Abdur Rehman claimed 1-37 in four overs.

Islamabad, who were without Shahid Afridi, struggled throughout. After the top and middle order failed to constitute any major partnership, Shehzad Azam prevented his side from utter humiliation by blasting his career-best unbeaten 44.

Shehzad, who struck two fours and a six from 35 balls, added 48 runs for the eighth wicket with Abdur Rehman (13).

Rehman struck one four from 15 balls.

Adil Amin (22) and keeper Naeem Anjum (22) were the only others who offered some resistance. Adil, who was adjudged lbw off Faraz Ahmed, banged one six and two fours from 21 balls. Naeem smashed two sixes from 16 deliveries.

Tabish (2-20) and Faraz (2-35) bowled with decent length to perturb the opposition batsmen.

Ahsan was declared man-of-the-match for his fine knock.

At the conclusion of the fourth round, Peshawar lead the table with eight points. Lahore Whites, Karachi Whites, Karachi Blues and Rawalpindi have four points each. FATA and Lahore Blues are tied at two points each. Islamabad have lost all their four matches.

The teams have moved to Multan and the second phase will begin on Monday (tomorrow).

Lahore Whites will face Rawalpindi at Multan Stadium on Monday. In the second match Karachi Blues will lock horns with FATA.

Four leading outfits will qualify for the semi-finals which will be held on September 15. The final will be conducted on September 16.