KARACHI: Hyderabad created the biggest upset of the ongoing ICRC National Disabled T20 Cricket Championship on Thursday when they dethroned Lahore to storm through to the semi-finals.

Karachi, last year’s runners-up, encountered no such trouble as they eased past Rawalpindi in their quarter-final, but debutants Islamabad humbled fancied Peshawar to reach the last-four round while Multan trounced Quetta to complete the line-up.

Batting first at the RLCA Gulberg Ground, Hyderabad collected 151-4 due to unbeaten knocks from man-of-the-match Mohammad Zubair (51 off 27 balls, six fours and two sixes) and Mohammad Noman (47 off 37, seven boundaries).

Outgoing champions Lahore were restricted to 136-8 in their response to the chase as Mohammad Irshad, Danish Ahmed and Ahmed Raza grabbed two wickets apiece.

In a low-scoring quarter-final at the National Stadium, Islamabad successfully defended 120-7 by curtailing Peshawar to 95 all out in 17.5 overs.

Waqaf Shah excelled for the unexpected winners by scoring an undefeated 35 before claiming 4-9 in a brilliant spell of left-arm spin to clinch the man-of-the-match award.

Jahanzaib Tiwana, rated as the top all-rounder in the Pakistan disabled cricket outfit, stole thunder at the National Stadium as he plundered 12 boundaries and six sixes an unbeaten 117 off just 59 deliveries to help Multan whip Quetta by 74 runs.

Put into bat, Multan collected 180-1 with Matloob Qureshi playing second fiddle to the dominant Jahanzaib as he made a 48-ball 50.

Quetta, in reply, mustered 106-8 with Umaiz-ur-Rehman and Tanvir Hussain sharing four wickets between them.

In the most competitive last-eight match, Karachi sealed a seven-wicket victory against Rawalpindi at the RLCA Gulberg Ground.

Rawalpindi, opting to bat first, reached 149-9 with Mohammad Hussain contributing 56 (37 balls, nine fours). Off-spin duo of Haroon Rashid (3-40) and Mohammad Kalam (2-30) shared the bowling limelight.

Karachi then rode on fine batting from Danish Ahmed (48 off 36 balls, five fours) and skipper Arif Richard (45 off 42, four fours) to reach 150-3 with three balls to spare.

In Friday’s semi-finals at the National Stadium, Karachi play Islamabad at 9:30am, followed by Multan taking on giant-killers Hyderabad at 1:00pm.

Meanwhile, a special ceremony was held at the National Stadium on Thursday to mark the World Disabled Day.

In a brief speech, Reto Stocker, head of ICRC Pakistan Delegation, said that the ICRC together with its local partners have been providing physical rehabilitation to people with disabilities since 1984.

He further said that these cricket players with disabilities are an inspiration for the whole world showing that nothing can come between them and their dreams, not even their disability.

He also reiterated ICRC’s commitment to continue working for the physical rehabilitation and social inclusion of people with disabilities.

Dr Abdul Bari Khan from Indus Hospital appreciated the efforts of the PDCA and disabled cricketers. PDCA president Saleem Karim and honorary secretary Amiruddin Ansari also spoke on the occasion. Former Test paceman Jalaluddin was also present along with representatives of all 12 participating teams.

Thursday’s results:

Quarter-finals:

Islamabad beat Peshawar by 25 runs at National Stadium.

ISLAMABAD 120-7 in 20 overs (Waqaf Shah 35 not out, Junaid Khan 22, Usman Paracha 19; Wajid Alam 2-24); 2. PESHAWAR 95 in 17.5 overs (Wajid Alam 25, Hayat Khan 17; Waqaf Shah 4-9, Zubair Khan 2-19, Kashif Nawaz 2-30). Hyderabad beat Lahore by 16 runs at RLCA Gulberg Ground.

HYDERABAD 151-4 in 20 over (Mohammad Zubair 51 not out, Mohammad Noman 47 not out, Salman Askari 28; Mohammad Zeeshan 2-12); LAHORE 136-8 in 20 over (Sahir Ashfaq 36 not out, Aaqib Javed 34; Mohammad Irshad 2-16, Danish Ahmed 2-18, Ahmed Raza 2-25).

Multan beat Quetta by 74 runs at National Stadium.

MULTAN 180-1 in 20 overs (Jahanzaib Tiwana 117 not out, Matloob Qureshi 50); QUETTA 106-8 in 20 overs (Fateh Mohammad 20, Saifullah 18, Nusratullah 17; Umaiz-ur-Rehman 2-15, Tanvir Hussain 2-21).

Karachi beat Rawalpindi by seven wickets at RLCA Gulberg Ground.

RAWALPINDI 149-9 in 20 overs (Mohammad Hussain 56, Wajahat 24; Haroon Rashid 3-40, Mohammad Kalam 2-30); KARACHI 150-3 in 19.3 overs (Danish Ahmed 48, Arif Richard 45, Rehan Ali 31).

Friday’s semi-final fixtures: Karachi vs Islamabad (National Stadium, 9:30am); Multan vs Hyderabad (National Stadium, 1:00pm).

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2015