KARACHI: Khushdil Shah churned out a scintillating half-century that eventually inspired the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) to a clinical six-wicket defeat of Rawalpindi in their National T20 Cup clash in Multan on Monday.

Earlier in the day’s first fixture at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar sneaked home on the last ball to beat Islamabad by three wickets with the Karachi-based duo of Mohammad Waqas and Saad Ali playing excellent knocks.

After all eight regional outfits having played four matches each, Karachi Whites still head the standings with three straight victories after starting the tournament with a defeat against Multan. Monday’s results also catapulted Fata from seventh to third while Peshawar are last-placed among six sides who have four points apiece with Islamabad rooted at the base with a solitary win.

Umar Amin’s decision to bat first backfired badly when Rawalpindi ended up with a below par tally of 139-9 against Fata’s tight bowling. The decisive blow was struck by occasional off-spinner Adil Amin who got rid of the Rawalpindi skipper for 10 with a low return catch that needed the adjudication of TV umpire Mohammad Sajid Afridi.

While Sami Aslam hit 37 off 36 balls (four boundaries) at the top of the order, Rawalpindi never got the momentum they searched for despite all-rounders Zahid Mansoor clobbering a brace of sixes in an 18-ball 30 and Khalid Usman blasting 20 off nine deliveries with four fours.

Adil claimed three for 14 in four brilliant overs with skipper Asif Afridi and paceman Mohammad Irfan Jr lending fine support with two wickets apiece.

After scoring only 37 in the Powerplay, Fata ran into more trouble as their second wicket went down in the eighth over with only 44 runs on the board.

But everything changed dramatically with the arrival of the left-handed Khushdil. The talented 23-year-old from Bannu — who has been very surprisingly overlooked for the 2019 Pakistan Super League after being part of Peshawar Zalmi squad this year in the emerging player category and played two matches — plundered 65 from only 40 balls as he smashed six sixes and two fours before getting out with Fata’s victory within sight.

The left-handed Asif, appropriately enough, struck a massive six over midwicket off slow left-armer Khalid Usman to give Fata two precious points before Khushdil was deservingly declared the man-of-the-match.

Earlier in the day Peshawar skipper Imran Khan Sr won a good toss and opted to bowl first. His decision was ultimately justified as Islamabad struggled to 135-7 — inadequate total that included a robust 47 from only 38 balls by opener Abid Ali, who slammed three fours and two sixes until being caught and bowled by off-spinner Sajid Khan.

The only other batsmen to cross the 20-run mark were Pakistan discard Iftikhar Ahmed (21 off 24 balls) and Adeel Malik (30 off 21, three fours and one six).

Sajid and left-arm paceman Waqas Maqsood both picked up two wickets.

Peshawar launched their chase on a sluggish note and at 58-3 in the 12th over Islamabad the wood on them. It was then left to the left and right hand combination of Saad (43 off 37 balls, four boundaries) and Waqas to revive the innings.

Man-of-the-match Waqas kept his cool till the very end. Two were needed on the final delivery of a pulsating encounter and the intelligent Waqas simply tucked Pakistan left-armer Junaid Khan gently in the square-leg region to run a couple that sent the Peshawar dugout into a state of sheer joy.

Monday’s results:

Fata beat Rawalpindi by six wickets.

RAWALPINDI 139-9 in 20 overs (Sami Aslam 37, Zahid Mansoor 30, Khalid Usman 20 not out; Adil Amin 3-14, Mohammad Irfan Jr 2-16, Asif Afridi 2-29); FATA 141-4 in 19 overs (Khushdil Shah 65, Mukhtar Ahmed 22; Hammad Azam 2-22).

Peshawar beat Islamabad by three wickets.

ISLAMABAD 135-7 in 20 overs (Abid Ali 47, Adeel Malik 30, Iftikhar Ahmed 21; Sajid Khan 2-25, Waqas Maqsood 2-33); PESHAWAR 136-7 in 20 overs (Saad Ali 43, Mohammad Waqas 41 not out, Israrullah 24; Ahmed Bashir 3-30).

Tuesday’s fixtures: Multan vs Lahore Whites (11:00am); Karachi Whites vs Lahore Blues (3:00pm).

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2018