KARACHI, Feb 28: Agha Sabir smashed an enterprising half century to steer Karachi Dolphins in the semifinals of the Twenty20 Cup with a seven-wicket win over Hyderabad Hawks in the last Pool ‘B’ match at the NBP Sports Complex on Tuesday.

Sabir hammered four fours and two sixes in his 42-ball unbeaten 51 as the Dolphins overhauled the Hawks’ 112 in 16 over for the loss of three wickets.

The victory lifted the Dolphins to second spot behind leaders Lahore Lions.

Shoaib Malik produced an excellent all-round performance as Sialkot Stallions comfortably surged into last four from Pool ‘A’.

Shoaib bludgeoned 78 off 37 deliveries with nine fours and three sixes and then claimed three for 18 with his off-spinners as Stallions outclassed Karachi Zebras by 83 runs in the evening match at the National Stadium.

Batting first, the Stallions piled up 217 for eight. Apart from Shoaib, skipper Imran Nazir (38 off 25 balls, six fours and one six) and Rana Navedul Hasan, who also hit six fours and one six in scoring an unbeaten 33 off only 13 balls, also shone.

The Zebras responded with 134 in 16.5 overs. Naumanullah made 36.

Reigning champions Faisalabad Wolves kept their chances alive for a semifinal berth when they whipped Lahore Eagles by 43 runs.

The Wolves, electing to bat first, were bowled out for 205 in 19.4 overs. Mohammad Hafeez smashed 31 in 14 balls with two fours and three sixes and Asif Hussain blasted 30 in 14 balls spiced with three boundaries and two sixes. Mohammad Salman then blasted 46 in 34 balls with the aid of four boundaries and a six.

Jahangir Mirza was the pick of Eagles’ bowlers with four for 28.

The Eagles crashed out for 162 in 16.1 overs. Imran Farhat was in a punishing mood as he slammed 62 in 23 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes.

Meanwhile at UBL Sports Complex, Peshawar Panthers recorded an exciting one-run victory over Multan Tigers.

Mohammad Fayyaz blasted 48 in 20 balls with seven fours and two sixes and Akhtar Sarfraz finished with an unbeaten 48 with three fours and as many sixes to help the Panthers collect 187 for six wickets in 20 overs.

Multan Tigers were restricted to 186 for eight in 20 overs. Saeed Anwar Jr was the main run-getter with 54, laced with five boundaries after facing 46 balls.

Earlier on Monday night, Hyderabad Hawks registered their first win beating Abbottabad Rhinos by nine wickets at National Stadium. Faisal Athar remained unbeaten with a 41-ball 66, a knock that included seven boundaries and a six.

Faisal and Shahid Qambrani put on 116 for the unbroken second wicket after opener Hanifur Rahman contributed 43 in 26 balls with four fours and two boundaries.

Summarised scores:

Faisalabad Wolves beat Lahore Eagles by 43 runs.

FAISALABAD WOLVES 205 in 19.4 overs (Mohammad Salman 46, Mohammad Hafeez 31, Asif Hussain 30, Naved Latif 23; Jahangir Mirza 4-28, Sohail Ahmed 2-24); LAHORE EAGLES 162 in 16.1 overs (Imran Farhat 62, Mohammad Ashfaq 27, Abid Ali 25; Samiullah Niazi 3-47,Imran Khalid 2-12).

Karachi Dolphins beat Hyderabad Hawks by seven wickets.

HYDERABAD HAWKS 112-8 in 20 overs (Shahid Qambrani 35, Hanifur Rahman 29; Irfanuddin 2-16); KARACHI DOLPHINS 113-3 in 15.4 overs (Agha Sabir 51 not out, Asim Kamal 33; Wasimur Rahman 2-17).

Peshawar Panthers beat Multan Tigers by one run.

PESHAWAR PANTHERS 187-6 in 20 overs (Akhtar Sarfraz 48, Riffatullah 45, Mohammad Fayyaz 45; Kashif Naved 2-36); MULTAN TIGERS 186-8 in 20 overs (Saeed Anwar 54, Azhar Shafiq 29, Kamran Hussain 26, Kashif Naved 26; Waqar Ahmed 2-44).

Islamabad Leopards beat Quetta Bears by 43 runs.

ISLAMABAD LEOPARDS 158-9 in 20 overs (Bilal Asad 31, Atif Ashraf 29, Afaq Rahim 26; Jalat Khan 3-26, Faisal Irfan 2-16, Zahoor Ahmed 2-34); QUETTA BEARS 115 in 18 overs (Sabir Khusq 40, Faisal Irfan 27; Rauf Akbar 4-28, Raheel Majeed 3-21).

Sialkot Stallions beat Karachi Zebras by 83 runs.

SIALKOT STALLIONS 217-8 in 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 78, Imran Nazir 38, Rana Navedul Hasan 33 not out; Danish Kaneria 4-31, Tahir Khan 2-42); KARACHI ZEBRAS 134 in 16.5 overs (Naumanullah 36, Wasim Naeem 27; Shoaib Malik 3-18, Sarfraz Ahmed 3-31, Mohammad Asif 2-36).

Played on Monday night:

Hyderabad Hawks beat Abbottabad Rhinos by nine wickets.

ABBOTTABAD RHINOS 174 in 19.4 overs (Ali Naqvi 45, Ashraf Ali 33, Nauman Ali 4-29, Kashif Raza 3-25); HYDERABAD HAWKS 176-1 in 19.2 overs (Faisal Athar 66 not out, Hanifur Rahman 43, Aqeel Ahmed 26 retired hurt, Shahid Qambrani 25 not out).—APP

Opinion

Editorial

Gagging social media
Updated 06 Jul, 2024

Gagging social media

IT is hoped that better sense prevails and the prime minister turns down the Punjab government’s troubling...
Ballooning bills
06 Jul, 2024

Ballooning bills

A SECOND cycle of nationwide protests and agitation against the ballooning price of electricity will start soon. On...
Labour’s landslide
06 Jul, 2024

Labour’s landslide

IN a historic moment for British politics, the Labour Party has achieved an unprecedented victory, securing over 400...
Trade cooperation
Updated 05 Jul, 2024

Trade cooperation

Will Shehbaz be able to translate his dream of integrating Pakistan within the region by liberalising trade cooperation with South and Central Asia?
Creeping militancy
05 Jul, 2024

Creeping militancy

WHILE military personnel and LEAs have mostly been targeted in the current wave of militancy, the list of targets is...
Dodging culpability
05 Jul, 2024

Dodging culpability

IT is high time the judiciary put an end to the culture of impunity that has allowed the missing persons crisis to...