Sarfraz, Asad shepherd Dolphins to convincing victory

KARACHI: Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq shared a vital partnership to guide Karachi Dolphins to a seven-wicket triumph over Multan Tigers in their Group B match of the Haier Super Eight T20 Cup 2014-15 at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad on Thursday.
Sarfraz (50*) and Asad (46) put on 87 runs for the third wicket to enable Dolphins chase the 148-run victory target with 18 balls to spare after losing three wickets.
After medium-pacer Aamer Yamin got rid of Shahzaib Hassan (5) and Rameez Raja (11), both Asad and Sarfraz batted sensibly to make the things easier for Dolphins.
Asad, who was removed by Sadaf Mehdi, smashed six fours from 36 deliveries. Sarfraz, who smacked five fours from 40 balls, then added 40 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket stand with Mohammad Waqas who slammed 13-ball 24 not out, having hit three huge sixes. Waqas hit international spinner Zulfiqar Babar for a glorious straight six to make Dolphins convincingly home.
Aamer bowled impressively, taking 2-10 from two overs. Sadaf Mehdi captured 1-25.
After being invited to bat first, Multan Tigers had to struggle hard before posting a respectable total in the end.
After losing openers Ahmed Rasheed (13) and Ammar Ali (2) cheaply, Aamer Yamin (47) and skipper Gulraiz Sadaf (40) shared vital 69 runs for the second wicket to create some hope of posting a fighting total.
However, after medium-pacer Abdul Ameer got rid of Yamin, Tigers kept losing wickets at regular interval and were restricted to 147-9 in the allotted overs.
Yamin smashed two sixes and three fours in his fine 35-ball knock. Gulraiz banged two fours and a six from 41 deliveries.
Zulfiqar Babar, in the end, hammered a rapid unbeaten 14 off seven balls, having hit Abdul Ameer for two successive sixes off his last two balls of the innings.
Test pacer Mohammad Sami bowled with superb line and length and picked 2-23 from four overs.
Fawad Khan (2-29), Abdul Ameer (2-32) and Faraz Ahmed (2-30) also remained impressive.
Karachi Dolphins’ captain Sarfraz Ahmed praised bowlers and Asad Shafiq for their fine victory.
“The credit goes to all bowlers who bowled really well in tough conditions,” Sarfraz said.
“Asad’s innings was a turning point as he set the tone, played positively and I also played with him and shared a good partnership that helped us,” Sarfraz said.
Multan Tigers’ captain Gulraiz Sadaf said they scored 20 runs less.
“We were 20 runs short that helped Dolphins to chase it easily. Asad and Sarfraz batted well. We were having mostly juniors and that was the main reason we faltered a bit,” Gulraiz said.
Sarfraz was declared man-of-the-match. Dolphins moved to three points from two outings.
The second loss also put Tigers out of the event.
In a vital Group B game on Thursday night, Lahore Lions were scheduled to face Faisalabad Wolves.
Meanwhile in Group A clash on Wednesday night, Rawalpindi Rams recorded their second successive victory when they defeated Sialkot Stallions by 25 runs.
Left-arm spinners Mohammad Asghar (3-29) and Samiullah (2-9) led Rams’ bowling to restrict Stallions to 127-9 while chasing a victory target of 153.
Ayaz Tasawwar (64*) was the only batsman who remained a threat for the oppositions. Sheikhupura-born young left-hander smacked four sixes and five fours in his 50-ball unfinished knock.
Nouman Anwar (15), Sultan Ahmed (12) and Usama Mir (11) were the others who entered double figures.
Test pacer Mohammad Amir (1-32) took the vital wicket of skipper Shoaib Malik (1).
After being asked to bat first, Khurram Shehzad (32), Mohammad Nawaz (28) and Zahid Mansoor (27) guided Rams to 152 all out.
Wicket-keeper batsman Jamal Anwar, in the end, struck a rapid 13-ball 21 with one six and two fours to take his team’s total to a fighting one.
International pacer Bilawal Bhatti got 4-27 from four overs while leg-spinner Usama Mir claimed 3-21 from four overs.
Mohammad Asghar was declared man-of-the-match.
On Friday (today), Rawalpindi Rams will face Peshawar Panthers in their Group A show at 5pm. In the other match of the same group Sialkot Stallions will meet Abbottabad Falcons at 9pm.