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Tuesday March 19, 2024

Asad, bowlers push Karachi Whites to second spot

By Alam Zeb Safi
November 21, 2017

KARACHI: Asad Shafiq hit a rapid 45 and then the bowlers did a fine job to enable Karachi Whites to register their third win on the trot as they overwhelmed Islamabad by 19 runs in their sixth round outing of the National T20 Cup at the Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi, on Monday.


Asad hammered five fours and two sixes in his 27-ball knock to help Karachi Whites post 148 all out on a wicket which did not offer much to the batsmen due to its slow nature.


Islamabad were restricted to 129-5 thanks to tight bowling from Tabish Khan, Rumman Raees, Zulfiqar Babar, Anwar Ali and Azam Hussain, who got one wicket each.After being invited to bat first, Karachi Whites kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but Asad showed his class which eventually helped his side.


Skipper Sarfraz towards the end made a valuable contribution of 21-ball 28 to build a defendable total. Sarfraz smashed two fours and one six. Shahid Yousuf chipped in with 16-ball 17 which had one four.


International left-arm pacer Mohammad Irfan (3-25) and Umar Gul (3-45) bowled well. In response, Islamabad made a slow start as openers Nauman Anwar (34) and Shan Masood (25) scored 55 off 53 balls.


Nauman smacked three fours and two sixes in his 33-ball knock. Left-handed Shan cracked four fours from 22 deliveries.After their fall in quick succession, Saad Ali (25) and Adil Amin (21) put on 42 off 38 balls for the third wicket.


Because of the increasing required run-rate, Islamabad came under pressure and were restricted far away from the target.Adil faced 23 balls. Saad smacked one six and one four from 20 deliveries.


Asad was adjudged man of the match. Karachi Whites skipper Sarfraz Ahmed praised his bowlers. “The credit goes to the bowlers as they defended a small total,” Sarfraz said.


“The way Tabish Khan bowled in the first six overs and then the way Rumman Raees and Anwar bowled near the end was exceptionally well,” said Sarfraz, who is also Pakistan captain in all three formats.


Islamabad’s skipper Zohaib Ahmed blamed both bowlers and batsmen for the defeat. “Both our bowling and batting were poor,” Zohaib said. “If you don’t score in the first six overs the pressure will come and we scored too little in the six overs, failing to make use of fielding restrictions,” the captain said. The victory took Karachi Whites to the second spot with seven points.


Lahore Blues also recorded their third win from five outings to reach seven points as they overpowered FATA by 19 runs thanks to fine performance from all-rounder Hussain Talat, who impressed with the bat with his career-best unbeaten 68.


The left-handed Talat scored 68 runs for the fifth wicket with Agha Salman (28*) to enable Lahore Blues to pile up 177-4.


FATA were restricted to 158-7.


After being asked to bat, Lahore Blues received an early blow when Imam-ul-Haq (1) again failed to play a big innings.


But skipper Mohammad Hafeez (31) and Ahmed Shehzad (29) added 49 off 30 balls for the second wicket to provide momentum to their side.


Hafeez hit four fours and one six from 22 balls, while Shehzad, who was caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Mohammad Irfan, struck five fours from 18 balls. After their fall, Hussain and Salman batted with great authority, taking their team to a decent total.


Talat, who hit pacer Ahmed Jamal for three successive fours, smashed three sixes and five fours in his brisk 46-ball knock.Salman also used long handle, hammering two sixes and two fours from 17 balls. Sameen Gul, Ahmed Jamal, Asif Afridi and Mohammad Irfan got one wicket each.


FATA had a disappointing response and at one stage they were reeling at 63-6. But Sohail Akhtar (74*) played his career-best innings, hitting four sixes and four fours from 56 balls. He added 85 off 53 balls for the seventh wicket with Asif Afridi (37) but it was too late. Ahmed Jamal smashed ten not out off two balls with one six and one four.


Test discard Aizaz Cheema was the pick of the bowlers with 3-24.


Aizaz and Hussain were jointly declared men of the match.


On Tuesday (today), Lahore Whites face Peshawar and Faisalabad meet Rawalpindi.