Umar guides Rawalpindi to 8-wicket win

ISLAMABAD: Umar Amin’s (3-31 and 84 not out) brilliant all round performance helped Rawalpindi beat Lahore Whites by eight wickets in the National One-Day Cup for Regions at the Pindi Stadium Wednesday.

The victory ensured Rawalpindi stay at the top of points table along with Karachi Whites with six points of four outings backed by handsome run aggregate.Put into bat first, Lahore Whites were bowled out for 190 in the 49th over with Mohammad Mohsin (37) being the top scorer. Fresh from the New Zealand tour, Umar picked 3-31 with his medium pace. Test discard Yasir Ali (3-22) and Sohail Tanvir (2-46) also bowled well.

Umar then struck brilliant 84 not out to see Rawalpindi hitting up the target in just 36th over. He smashed 14 fours during his 100-ball unbeaten knock. His flicks and leg side pull shots were a treat to watch.

Together with Iftikhar Ahmad (59 not out) he put on 150 runs for unbroken third wicket to win the match for Rawalpindi. Mohammad Aftab (1-14) dislodged Azhar Ali (12) early with Naveed Malik (26) also getting out soon. Umar and Iftikhar then ensured victory courtesy to brilliant counter attack strategy.

Scores in brief: At Pindi Stadium: Lahore Whites 190 all out in 48.1 overs (Mohammad Mohsin 37, Rizwan Ahmad 24, Umaid Asif 24; Yasir Ali 3-22, Umar Amin 3-31, Sohail Tanvir 2-46). Rawalpindi 191-2 in 35.1 overs (Umar Amin 84 not out, Iftikhar Ahmad 59 not out)

At Diamond Ground: Islamabad 254-5 in 50 overs (Shan Masood 128 not out, Shahid Yousaf 44, Faizan Riaz 43; Aizaz Cheema 2-58). Lahore Blues 255-3 in 48.5 overs (Mohammad Saad 100 not out, Saad Nasim 37 not out, Raza Ali Dar 37; Nauman Ali 1-43). Result: Lahore Blues beat Islamabad by seven wickets.

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: Faisalabad 248 in 50 overs (Abdul Samad 62, Raees Ahmad 51, Misbahul Haq 44; Imran Khan Sr 3-38, Israrullah 2-49). Peshawar 252-6 in 49.1 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 72, Adil Amin 52 not out, Mohammad Rizwan 49; Asad Raza 2-61, Waqas Masood 1-41). Result: Peshawar won by four wickets.

At National Ground, Islamabad: Fata 120 in 34 overs (Sohail Akhtar 24, Muhammad Irfan 19; Ziaul Haq 3-17, Anwar Ali 3-22, Muhammad Asghar 2-39). Karachi Whites 124-0 in 31.1 overs (Khurram Manzoor 61 not out, Danish Aziz 60 not out). Result: Karachi Whites won by 10 wickets.