ISLAMABAD: Salman Butt (74 not out) and Kamran Akmal (63) smashed fifties as Lahore Whites carved out an easy 41-run win against FATA in the National T20 Cricket match at the Pindi Stadium Friday. Both helped Lahore raise Championship’s best 213 for 4 in 20 overs with Fata managing 172 before being bowled out. Butt leading from front smashed two sixes and eight fours during his 50-ball knock. Kamran was more flamboyant striking 10 fours and two six in his 29-ball knock. Amir Yamin (52) put icing on the cake striking 26-ball half century to raise a daunting total. Hammad Azam (50) and Mukhtar Ahmed (30) batted well for Fata but the target was always tough and demanding. Wahab Riaz (3-15), Bilal Asif (2-15) and Umaid Asif (2-27) were brilliant with ball. Wahab bowled with speed and troubled batsmen with his short pitched deliveries. Scores: Lahore White 213-4 in 20 overs (Salman Butt 74*, Kamran Akmal 63, Amir Yamin 52, Sohail Akhtar 2-38, Hammad Azam 1-26, Usama Mir 1-43) Fata 172 in 18.3 overs (Hammad Azam 50, Mukhtar Ahmed 30,Wahab Riaz 3-15, Bilal Asif 2-15, Umaid Asif 2-27). Result: Lahore Region White won by 41 runs. Man of the match: Kamran Akmal (Lahore Region Whites). Our Karachi correspondent adds: Test cricketer Asad Shafiq blasted spectacular 72 while Anwar Ali claimed four wickets to enable Karachi Whites to record their first win from four games when they defeated Rawalpindi by 14 runs in their day-night match of the National T20 Cup at the Pindi Stadium. Asad batted with immense responsibility in what was seemed a fragile batting line-up to take Karachi Whites to a fighting total of 178-6 in the allotted 20 overs after being invited to bat first. International allrounder Anwar Ali then captured 4-30 in four overs to enable Karachi Whites to restrict Rawalpindi to 164-9. After the top order failed to back Asad it was skipper Sarfraz Ahmed (30*) who shared a 52-run valuable partnership for the fifth wicket with his opener to consolidate the score. Asad, who was removed by Sohail Tanvir, struck nine fours and one six from 48 balls he faced. And in the end Anwar Ali (15) along with Sarfraz used long handle to benefit their side. Anwar hammered two sixes from eight balls. Sarfraz smacked three fours and one six from 20 balls in his unfinished knock. In response it was not a good reply from Rawalpindi as they kept losing wickets at regular interval before being restricted well away of the target.At one stage Rawalpindi lost their three crucial wickets of Fawad Alam (20), Rameez Aziz (0) and Shadab Khan (0) inside four deliveries that really put Karachi Whites in commanding position. Skipper Umar Amin top-scored 28 off 14 balls with three fours and two sixes. Test cricketer Iftikhar Ahmed made 24-ball 25 with one six and one four. Sohail Tanvir hit three sixes in his 12-ball 24. Stumper Umair Masood cracked 17-ball 24 with two fours and one six and Mohammad Irfan Junior belted unbeaten 11-ball 19 with two fours and one six. Anwar Ali was ably supported by Rumman Raees (2-25) and left-arm spinner Azam Hussain (2-33). Asad Shafiq was declared man of the match.
