Kamran, Salman set world record in Islamabad mauling

KARACHI: Test stumper Kamran Akmal (150*) and Salman Butt (55*) created a world record for the highest opening partnership when they scored 209 for the unbroken opening stand to enable Lahore Whites to finish at the summit as they crushed Islamabad by 109 runs in their last game of the National T20 Cup at the Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi, on Friday.

The duo broke the record of 207 runs made by Kent’s JL Denly and DJ Bell Drummond against Essex in English Country Cricket Championship on August 17, 2017, at Chelmsford. Islamabad were skittled out for only 100 in 18.4 overs.

It was also the third highest partnership for any wicket in a T20 innings. The 35-year-old wicketkeeper batsman also became the first Pakistani and first glove-man to score 150 in T20 cricket.

After being invited to bat first, Kamran was ruthless against the strong bowling line-up of Islamabad, which comprised tall international paceman Mohammad Irfan (0-48), Umar Gul (0-39), Rahat Ali (0-40) and gutsy spinner Raza Hasan (0-38).

Kamran smashed 14 fours and 12 sixes in his 71-ball knock. Salman struck eight fours in his 49-ball knock. He beat the record of most sixes in an innings previously held by Bilal Asif who had hit 10 sixes in a T20 game.

Kamran surpassed Quinton de Kock (126*) of South Africa to register the highest individual score by a wicket-keeper. Kamran also became the first Pakistani and overall third to score fifty or more in five consecutive T20 innings. He now has 382 runs in this eight-team competition.

Islamabad, in reply, panicked and were folded well behind the target. Raza Hasan scored 15-ball 19 with two sixes. Opener Shan Masood made 15-ball 17 with one four. Left-handed Saad Ali chipped in with 13 off eight balls, smashing one six and one four.

Asif Ali (3-27) and Bilal Asif (3-34) got three wickets each. Left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz claimed 2-7 in three overs. Kamran was declared man of the match. Lahore Whites, who finished at the top with 11 points, will meet Faisalabad in the semi-final on Saturday (today).

In the day-night game, FATA defeated Faisalabad by four wickets to qualify for the semi-finals due to their net run-rate which was higher than that of Karachi Whites. Both sides finished with seven points each. After being invited to bat, Faisalabad piled up 157-5 with Asif Ali scoring unbeaten 52 off 35 balls. He hit four sixes and two fours.

He added 57 for the fourth wicket with left-hander Ali Waqas, who belted 42-ball 40 with three fours and one six. Imran Khalid hammered 18 not out off six balls with two sixes and one four. Left-arm pacer Zia-ul-Haq got 2-24.

FATA raced to the target in 16.4 overs after losing six wickets. International Mukhtar Ahmed once again excelled with the bat, scoring 46 off 27 balls, smashing three sixes and three fours. After losing a few quick wickets, skipper Hammad Azam (37*) and Asif Afridi (34) made solid recovery and scored 70 off 39 balls for the sixth wicket to take their side home.

Hammad hit four sixes and one four in his 19-ball unfinished knock. Asif smacked two sixes and two fours in his 24-ball feat. Test leggie Yasir Shah got 3-23 in four overs, while Saeed Ajmal captured 2-27 in his 3.4 overs. FATA meet Lahore Blues in the second semi-final on Saturday (today).

Points Table

Teams Play Won Lost Tied N/R Pts Net RR

Lahore (W) 7 5 0 0 1 11 1.750

Lahore (B) 7 5 1 0 1 11 0.400

Faisalabad 7 4 1 0 1 9 0.163

FATA 7 3 2 0 1 7 -0.019

Karachi (W) 7 3 3 0 1 7 -1.041

Islamabad 7 2 3 0 1 5 -1.193

Peshawar 7 1 5 0 1 3 -0.405

Rawalpindi 7 1 5 0 1 3 -0.647