Abid hits record 209 to take Islamabad into semis

KARACHI: Abid Ali blasted a record unbeaten 209 to put Islamabad in the semi-finals when they crushed Peshawar by 233 runs in their last league outing of the National One-day Cup for Regions at Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar on Tuesday.

This is the highest total by any player in Pakistan’s List A cricket and 11th highest in the world. The other Pakistanis who have scored double centuries in List A cricket include Mohammad Ali (207), Khalid Latif (204*) and Test stumper Kamran Akmal who blasted 200, while representing WAPDA against Habib Bank Limited (HBL) in Departmental National One-day Cup outing last month.

The 30-year-old Lahore-born Abid hammered 24 fours and five sixes in his epic 156-ball unfinished knock to enable Islamabad to post 374-1 in the allotted 50 overs.Abid added 176 for the opening stand with skipper Shan Masood who chipped in with 84-ball 71 laced with nine fours. Abid then put on 198 for the second wicket unbroken stand with Faizan Riaz who hammered unbeaten 61-ball 76 which featured 11 fours.

Imran Khan Senior got 1-72.In response, holders Peshawar were folded for only 141 in 38 overs. Nabi Gul top-scored with 51-ball 42 featuring five fours and one six. Sahibzada Farhan (24), Ubaidullah (21) and Mehran Ibrahim (20) were the only others to enter double figures.

Part-time off-spinner Shahid Yousuf got 3-8 in three overs. Raza Hasan (2-39), Nouman Ali (2-23) and Ahmed Basher (2-25) were the other wicket-takers.Abid’s heroics in fact changed fortunes of Islamabad as they were at the bottom after penultimate round. The superb victory enabled Islamabad to finish fourth with six points. Islamabad surpassed Lahore Blues (6 points) and Faisalabad (6 points) on net run-rate. Islamabad will now face Rawalpindi and Karachi Whites will lock horns with Peshawar in the semi-finals to be held at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi on Thursday (tomorrow) and Friday.

Meanwhile, at the Pindi Stadium, Karachi Whites crushed Lahore Whites by nine wickets to finish at the summit with ten points.Test batsmen Khurram Manzoor (143*) and Asad Shafiq (70) did a glorious job to help Karachi Whites achieve the 240-run target in 39 overs after losing just one wicket.

Khurram, who had hit his career-best 187 in the last game, smashed 17 fours and four sixes in his quick-fire 126-ball knock.Asad, who had hit hundred in the last outing, smacked nine fours from 87 deliveries. The duo added 151 for the opening partnership.

Left-arm spinner Asfand Mehran got 1-45. After being invited to bat, Lahore Whites made 239-8 with skipper Usman Salahuddin blasting 121-ball 92. Usman, who hit seven fours in his fine knock, added 116 for the fourth wicket association with Umar Siddiq who chipped in with 82-ball 61.

Adnan Akmal smacked five fours in his 36-ball 35. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar got 3-39. Anwar Ali (2-41) and left-arm young pacer Zia-ul-Haq (2-51) also bowled tightly. This was the fifth win from Karachi Whites.

At Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad, Faisalabad defeated Lahore Blues by three wickets. Skipper Khurram Shehzad (77) and Mohammad Imran (55) shared 110 for the fifth wicket partnership to enable Faisalabad to race to the 236-run target with just one ball to spare.Khurram hit eight fours and two sixes in his 102-ball knock. Imran struck six fours from 79 deliveries. Left-arm spinner Qaiser Ashraf got 3-43. Test discard Aizaz Cheema picked 2-42.

Earlier, Mohammad Imran (3-46) and international all-rounder Faheem Ashraf (3-29) helped Faisalabad fold Lahore Blues for 235 in the 49th over.Mohammad Saad top-scored with 122-ball 89 which carried four fours and one six. Saad added 64 for the fourth wicket association with Salman Ali Agha who chipped in with 41-ball 38 which contained three fours. Skipper Umar Akmal scored 26-ball 28 with three fours and one six.

At KRL Ground in Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi romped to their fifth win after beating FATA by five wickets in a high-scoring game.Khushdil Shah (96) and Mukhtar Ahmed (77) enabled FATA to accumulate 320-8 in the stipulated 50 overs. Khushdil hit eight fours and one six from 85 balls. Mukhtar banged seven fours and three sixes from 69 balls. Mukhtar added 89 for the opening stand with skipper Fawad Khan who blasted 55-ball 52 with five fours and four sixes.

Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti made 49-ball 39 with three fours. Paceman Yasir Ali (2-49) and left-arm spinner Saud Shakeel (2-48) were the successful bowlers.Rawalpindi achieved the target on the second last ball after losing five wickets in the process with Saud Shakeel blasting 134 not out.

The left-handed Karachi-born batsman hit 15 fours and one six in his 122-ball commanding knock. He added 185 for the fourth wicket stand with Test cricketer Iftikhar Ahmed who belted 89-ball 91 with nine fours and one six. Saud then added 68 for the fifth wicket association with Behram Khan who hit 28-ball 35 with four boundaries. Sohail Akhtar got 2-27.

Points Table

Teams M W L T/NR Points Net RR

K Whites 7 5 2 0 10 0.677

Rawalpindi 7 5 2 0 10 0.539

Peshawar 7 5 2 0 10 -0.440

Islamabad 7 3 4 0 6 0.578

L Blues 7 3 4 0 6 0.292

Faisalabad 7 3 4 0 6 -0.331

L Whites 7 2 4 1 5 -0.638

FATA 7 1 5 1 3 -0.633