Kamran, Salman, Bismillah propel WAPDA into final

By Alam Zeb Safi

January 13, 2018

KARACHI: Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt and Bismillah Khan hit superb fifties to enable the recently held Quaid-e-Azam Trophy runners-up WAPDA to qualify for the final after they outclassed Pakistan Television by nine wickets in the second semi-final of the National One-day Cup for Departments here at NBP Sports Complex on Friday.

WAPDA will now face United Bank Limited (UBL) in the final here at UBL Sports Complex on Sunday (tomorrow).

Chasing a relatively easy target of 232, WAPDA, as expected, did not face any trouble and achieved it with an enviable ease in 43 overs after losing only Kamran who played a mighty knock of 87 off 86 deliveries. Both Kamran and skipper Salman Butt (75*) played in contrasting ways. Kamran was taking chances while Salman opted for a judicious display that eventually benefitted WAPDA.

Kamran and Salman provided a decent 123-run opening stand before the former was stumped by wicket-keeper Taimur Khan off the bowling of off-spinner Waleed Malik.

Kamran came down the wicket and missed a delivery that slightly spun in after pitching on the middle and leg before it sneaked through the gats, with the stumper making no mistake.Kamran, who survived near his fifty when he was dropped by Samiullah at square-leg off the bowling of leggie Mohammad Irfan, banged three sixes and 11 fours in his entertaining feat.

Quetta-born Bismillah (67*), who served behind the wickets in the match as Kamran had opted to field, then joined his skipper Salman. The duo kept on building the innings, adding 111 for the second-wicket unbroken association to help their side convincingly make home. Salman, also a former Pakistan captain, smacked only four fours in his 103-ball unfinished knock.

The 27-year-old Bismillah, who seemed in elegant touch, smashed nine fours and a glorious six off left-arm spinner Saud Shakeel. Bismillah also hit medium pacer Athar Mehmood for three successive fours.

Waleed Malik (1-49) was the only successful bowler. Leggie Mohammad Irfan (0-45) bowled tightly.Earlier Salman Butt won a vital toss and invited PTV to bat first in a bid to exploit the early wet conditions.

After losing a couple of early wickets, young skipper Saud Shakeel (47) and Mohammad Irfan (33) tried to resurrect the innings by sharing 72 for the third-wicket association. Off-spinner Mansoor Amjad broke the partnership when he bowled Irfan. Irfan went for a slog sweep to a ball that pitched up but he failed to connect it before it hit the stumps. FATA-born Irfan, who had been promoted in the batting order, clobbered four fours from 47 deliveries.

Test cricketer Hasan Raza (34) joined Saud but Mansoor Amjad had the latter to leave PTV reeling at 109-4 in the 26th over.Saud, who was splendidly held by Mohammad Asif at backward gully position, smashed seven fours from 57 balls.

Hasan Raza and young Hasan Mohsin (30) then added 54 for the fifth-wicket partnership before the former got run out by the close-in fielder Salman Butt. Hasan, who is the youngest player in the world to make a Test debut, struck two fours from 48 balls.

Stumper Taimur Khan (29) and Ali Khan (27) then put on 54 for the seventh-wicket stand to take their side to a seemingly good total.

Taimur smashed one six and two fours from 26 balls. Ali’s 31-ball innings carried three fours.Left-arm tall international pacer Mohammad Irfan, who also had Ali Khan and Samiullah (0) off his two successive balls towards the end, finished with 3-33.

Left-arm spinner Khalid Usman (2-35) and Mansoor Amjad (2-20) were the other successful bowlers.

Asif Yaqoob and Imtiaz Iqbal supervised the match. Ahmed Shahab served as television umpire and Tahir Rasheed as reserve umpire. Iftikhar Ahmed was the match referee.

WAPDA won toss

PTV

Nihal Mansoor lbw b Khalid 18

Ali Imran(1) c Bismillah b Irfan 0

M Irfan(5) b Mansoor 33

*Saud Shakeel c Asif b Mansoor 47

Hasan Raza run out 34

Hasan Mohsin c Irfan b Khalid 30

Ali Khan b Irfan 27

†Taimur Khan c Kamran b Asif 29

Samiullah b Irfan 0

Waleed Malik not out 5