Federal Areas stay alive, Sindh 169-3 chasing 338

KARACHI: Test-discard Sami Aslam finally regained his form when he blasted career-best 169 to enable Federal Areas to stay alive when they defeated Balochistan by four wickets in a high-scoring day-night game of the Pakistan Cup 2017 National One-day Cricket Championship at the Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi, on Wednesday night.

Sami smashed 17 fours and five sixes in his 126-ball effort, which helped Federal Areas achieve the 376-run target with 16 balls to spare after losing six wickets.

After international all-rounder Aamer Yamin got rid of Abid Ali (4), Sami and Mohammad Hafeez (68) fully exploited the easy batting conditions, sharing 147 runs off just 109 balls for the second wicket.

Hafeez, who fell prey to spinner Agha Salman in the 20th over, hammered eight fours and two sixes in his 54-ball knock. The former Pakistan captain reached his fifty off 40 balls.

After losing in-form Haris Sohail (2) early, when he was dislodged by part-time bowler Rameez Aziz, Sami added 90 off 63 balls for the fourth wicket with all-rounder Zohaib Ahmed, who got out on 31-ball 34. Zohaib smashed three fours and one six before being dismissed by Rameez.

Sami put on 69 off 54 balls for the fifth wicket with skipper Imad Wasim (69*) before the former was removed by Sohail Tanvir.

Sami reached his fifty off 51 balls, hundred off 75 deliveries and 150 off 105 balls. This was his seventh century in his 52nd game in this form of cricket. When Sami departed, Federal Areas were 330-5 in the 43rd over.

Sohail Khan (22*) and Imad played aggressively and scored 44 off 25 deliveries for the seventh wicket to take their team home comfortably.

Imad, who completed his fifty off just 36 deliveries, smacked three sixes and five fours from 49 deliveries.

Sohail hit one six and two fours from 11 deliveries.

Rameez was the most successful bowler with 2-38 from 6.3 overs. Sohail Tanvir, Aamer Yamin, Azizullah and Agha Salman got one wicket each.

Sami Aslam was declared man of the match.

Balochistan had piled up 375-7 in the stipulated 50 overs thanks to skipper Fakhar Zaman’s fine 104.

Khalid Mehmood and Shozab Raza supervised the match.

On Thursday, in the important last league game, Punjab set 338 runs target for Sindh thanks to discarded international Umar Amin’s splendid 111, his second century of the event.

The left-hander smacked seven sixes and as many fours to enable Punjab to post 337-9 in the stipulated 50 overs.

He added 100 off 107 balls for the third wicket with skipper Umar Akmal (36), who banged two fours from 53 deliveries.

Amin was involved in a 54-run fourth wicket stand with Nasir Nawaz (13).

Bilal Asif (55) and Khushdil Shah (32) used long handle, scoring an electrifying 60-ball 80 for the sixth wicket to take their team to a huge total.

Bilal, who was removed by left-arm pacer Rumman Raees, smacked four sixes and one four from 42 deliveries.

Khushdil struck one six and three fours from 27 deliveries.

All-rounder Fahim Ashraf made a fiery 13-ball 30 with three sixes to take his side to an impressive total.

Left-arm-pacer Mir Hamza (4-70) had blown the top order, taking the crucial wickets of Kamran Akmal (17) and Salman Butt (20).

Rumman Raees captured 3-46 in 10 overs.

In response, Sindh, who must win the match to qualify for the April 29 final, were 169-3 in 30 overs till filing of the report.

Akbar-ur-Rehman (79*) and Mohammad Nawaz (29*) were at the crease.

They need 169 from 20 overs.

Ahsan Raza and Riazuddin were supervising the game.

If Sindh win they will face Balochistan in the final on Saturday (tomorrow).

If they lose, Federal Areas will meet Balochistan in the decider.