ISLAMABAD: Kamran Akmal (150 not out) set the Pindi Stadium ablaze with an exhibition of powerful hitting in Lahore Region Whites’ emphatic 109-run win against Islamabad Region in the National T20 Cup match at the Pindi Stadium on Friday. The 10th highest individual innings in recognised T20 cricket saw Lahore Whites reaching 209 for no loss. Islamabad were bowled out for just 100 in reply. Kamran, who also returned as the highest run-getter in the on-going National T20 Cup, smashed record 12 sixes and 14 fours during his 71-ball innings. He dominated a depleted Islamabad bowling right from the word go and went on to finish in style. Kamran’s aggressive display enthralled the sizeable crowd and his aggressive approach was a treat to watch. Salman Butt (55 not out) played well but turned out to be a spectator at the other end as Kamran’s shots were flying all over the stadium.According to Cricinfo, Kamran and Butt’s partnership of 209 also meant that Lahore had another T20 record — the highest innings score by a team without losing a wicket. The pair surpassed the opening partnership of 207 set by Kent batsmen Joe Denly and Daniel Bell-Drummond in the Natwest t20 Blast earlier this year, and notched up only the third 200-plus opening stand in T20 cricket. Islamabad batsmen were unable to respond with the same tempo. Bilal Asif (3-34) and Wahab Riaz (2-7) ran through their innings in less than 19 overs.Lahore Whites finished round robin league proceedings on top of the table followed by their sister team Lahore Blues. In the last match of the round-robin league, Hammad Azam (37 not out) and Mukhtar Ahmad (46) powered Fata Region into the semi-finals. Faisalabad Region set Fata a victory target of 158 runs. Fata needed to reach that score within 17 overs to overtake Karachi Region Whites on the net run-rate to qualify for the semi-finals. Spurred by some explosive hitting from Hammad, Mukhtar and Asif Afridi, Fata achieved victory in 16.4 overs. Batting first, Faisalabad hit up 157-5. Asif Ali top-scored with a 35-ball 52 not out, which contained four sixes and two fours. Ali Waqas (40) also batted well.Opener Mukhtar smashed three sixes and as many fours to provide a solid start to the Fata innings. Hammad then came to the party, hitting four sixes and a four in his 19-ball knock. Asif Afridi (34) also played well and put on 70 runs with Hammad for the sixth wicket stand. Lahore Region Whites will play Faisalabad Region in the first semi-final while Lahore Region Blues will take on Fata Region in the second. Scores in brief: Lahore Region Whites beat Islamabad Region by 109 runs: Lahore Region Whites 209-0 in 20 overs (Kamran Akmal 150 not out, Salman Butt 55 not out). Islamabad Region 100 in 18.4 overs (Raza Hasan 19, Shan Masood 17; Bilal Asif 3-34, Wahab Riaz 2-7, Amir Yamin 1-9, Ehsan Adil 1-16). Man of the Match: Kamran Akmal (Lahore Region Whites). Fata Region beat Faisalabad Region by 4 wickets: Faisalabad Region 157-5 in 20 overs (Asif Ali 52 not out, Ali Waqas 40, Sahibzada Farhan 23; Ziaul Haq 2-24, Muhammad Irfan 1-15, Sameen Gul 1-44). Fata Region 158-6 in 16.4 overs (Mukhtar Ahmed 46, Hammad Azam 37 not out, Asif Afridi 34; Yasir Shah 3-23, Saeed Ajmal 2-27, Asad Ali 1-26). Man of the Match: Hammad Azam (Fata Region).
