Imran’s fireworks put Faisalabad in semis

KARACHI: Imran Khalid hit rookie paceman Shah Faisal for a glorious six off the last ball to put Faisalabad in the semi-finals when they defeated Peshawar by five wickets in their day-night match of the National T20 Cup at the Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi, on Thursday.

This was the fourth win for Faisalabad which took them to nine points with a game yet in hand. Lahore Blues and Lahore Whites had already qualified for the last-four stage.Chasing 140, Faisalabad required 12 runs off the last over, bowled by Bannu-born 21-year-old pacer Shah Faisal. They needed four off the final delivery when the experienced left-hander Khalid hit a glorious six to win the match.

Khalid scored 11 off just four balls, hitting one six and one four. International all-rounder Faheem Ashraf scored nine-ball 17 not out in crunch time, hitting one six and one four.

Sahibzada Farhan (47) had played another sensible knock to bring his side very close to the victory. The Charsadda-born right-hander smashed three fours and one six in his 49-ball knock. He scored 50 off 47 balls for the opening stand with Gohar Ali, who blasted 22-ball 30 with four fours and one six. Asif Ali, in the middle, hit 17-ball 19 with one six and one four. Test pacer Sohail Khan got 2-19.

After being asked to bat first, former champions Peshawar failed to stage a good total and were folded only for 139 in 19.5 overs.Skipper Rafatullah Mohmand hit an explosive 12-ball 32 with three sixes and three fours. Obaidullah made 26-ball 29 with two fours and one six. Mohammad Imran scored 18 off 23 balls with one six.

Left-arm pacer Taj Wali bowled impressively, picking 3-29 in four overs. Left-arm spinner Imran Khalid (2-36) and skipper Saeed Ajmal (2-15) also put Peshawar batsmen in trouble.

It was the most disappointing event for Peshawar as they finished with just three points.Earlier in the day, Lahore Blues romped to their fifth victory to rise to the summit, ousting Rawalpindi by seven wickets thanks to an all-round show from Agha Salman.

The 23-year-old off-spinner picked 3-8 to dismiss Rawalpindi for 118 and then hit 22-ball 34 not out to enable Lahore Blues to achieve the 119-run target in 17.1 overs. Only two batsmen of Rawalpindi, who were asked to bat first, managed double figures as they were all out in 17.4 overs. Test cricketer Iftikhar Ahmed scored 33-ball 60, which featured six magnificent sixes.

Opener Zeeshan Malik scored 24 off 26 balls with three fours. Atif Jabbar pulled off impressive figures of 3-25.In reply, Lahore Blues raced to the target with 17 balls to spare. Imam-ul-Haq (36) and Ahmed Shehzad (27) scored 64 off 52 balls for the opening stand.

Agha Salman and young all-rounder Hussain Talat (21*) added 50 for the fourth wicket unbroken association to take their side home safely. Spinner Mohammad Asghar got 3-13. On Friday (today), Lahore Whites face Islamabad while Faisalabad take on FATA.