Adil stars as Islamabad pip Faisalabad in thriller

KARACHI: Adil Amin’s all-round performance enabled Islamabad to record their second win from four outings when they defeated Faisalabad by two wickets in last-ball thriller of the National T20 Cup at the Pindi Stadium Rawalpindi on Saturday.

In the day-night game, chasing 171, Islamabad needed eight runs off the last over from left-arm pacer Taj Wali and three off the last two balls when international Mohammad Irfan (3*) took a couple and then one run off the last ball to take his side home.

The output took Islamabad to third spot with five points, just behind Lahore Whites (5 points) and Faisalabad (5 points) on net run-rate.

The real hero of Islamabad’s win was Adil Amin, who took 4-27 with his off-spin bowling to restrict Faisalabad to 170-7. Adil then also blasted 27-ball 35 to play a big role in his team’s successful chase.

After opting to bat, Fasialabad lost Gohar Ali (9) early. However in-form Sahibzada Farhan (43) and discarded international Sohaib Maqsood (38) put on 70 off 49 balls for the second wicket to provide a solid foundation to their team. Farhan, who has already hit two fifties in this event, struck five fours and one six from 39 balls. Sohaib seemed more ruthless, hitting four sixes and one four in his rapid 22-ball knock. Khurram Shehzad in the end hit 17-ball 37 with three sixes and one four and Asif Ali chipped in with 13-ball 22 with two sixes and one four. Adil was ably backed by Mohammad Irfan with 2-22.

In response, Islamabad had a brittle start when Nauman Anwar (9) was sent back cheaply. However left-handed opener Shan Masood (32) and Adil Amin added 60 off only 32 balls to consolidate the innings.

Adil struck two sixes and two fours from 27 deliveries. Shan hammered six fours from 22 balls.

Karachi-born Saad Ali (52) took his side close to victory with a spectacular innings. The left-hander struck two sixes and three fours from 40 balls. Sarmad Bhatti also hammered a handy 18 off ten balls to play a role in his team’s cause before Irfan doing the job in the end to complete the victory.

Sarmad smashed one six and two fours in his valuable innings. Left-arm pacer Taj Wali, who removed Umar Gul and Saad Ali in the last over, got 3-30. Test leggie Yasir Shah claimed 2-29.

Meanwhile, Lahore Blues also registered their second win after ousting Peshawar by three runs thanks to superb last over from debutant fast bowler Ali Shafiq.

Set to score 174, Peshawar required seven runs off the last over from Shafiq and four off the last three balls when the right-arm pacer had Waqas Maqsood (8) and Imran Khan Senior (0) off two successive balls to fold Peshawar for 170.

Naved Yasin (62*), who made a blunder by exposing tail-enders in the final over, hit four fours and three sixes from 44-ball in his futile effort.

Rafatullah Mohmand blasted 25-ball 42 with five fours and two sixes to provide a quick start to former two-time champions.

Israrullah also looked dangerous, hammering 26 off ten balls which contained four fours and one six. Discarded international Aizaz Cheema (3-45), Ali Shafiq (3-21) and Agha Salman (2-29) bowled well.

Earlier, international opener Ahmed Shehzad slammed a quick-fire 22-ball 50 to enable Lahore Blues post 173-6.

Shehzad, who hit nine fours and one six, added 65 off 29 balls for the opening stand with Imam-ul-Haq (19) to provide a rapid start to his side.

Imam, who recently made his international debut against Sri Lanka in the UAE, smashed two fours and one six from 14 deliveries.

Young all-rounder Hussain Talat (37) and skipper Mohammad Hafeez (30) then shared 41 off 31 balls for the third wicket stand before Agha Salman scoring 13-ball 18 with one six and one four in the end to take Lahore Blues to a decent total.

Left-handed Talat smashed three fours and two sixes from 29 balls. Hafeez, who was held in the deep, smacked three fours in his run-a-ball knock.

Left-arm pacer Waqas Maqsood got 3-23, while spinner Kashif Bhatti captured 2-30. Ahmed Shehzad was adjudged man of the match for his innings. On Sunday (today), Lahore Whites meet Rawalpindi, while Karachi Whites take on Peshawar.