DARWIN: Despite Mohammad Abbas Afridi’s quickfire half-century, Adelaide Strikers comfortably beat Pakistan Shaheens by 30 runs in the semi-final of the Top End T20 series here at the DXC Arena on Sunday.

Chasing a tough-looking 198, Shaheens were dismissed for 167 with 11 balls to spare.

This semi-final loss brings an end to the Shaheens’ tour of Darwin which began with a two four-day match series against Bangladesh ‘A’ in July followed by two 50-over matches against Bangladesh ‘A’ and NT Strike. In all, Shaheens played seven matches in the Top End T20 series, winning five and losing two.

Coming in to bat at number seven as Shaheens slumped to 65-5 in the eighth over, Abbas smashed 54 off 29 balls with the help of five fours and three sixes with no support from the other end. His stellar effort went in vain.

Shaheens lost a wicket each in second, third, fourth and fifth over as they were reduced to 33-4 in 4.1 overs. Captain Moh­ammad Haris got off to a steady start (19 off 11 balls) with the help of three fours before falling to Tim Oakley in the third over.

Mubasir Khan (18 off 12) and Usman Khan (32 off 20) stitched a 32-run fifth-wicket part­n­ership but they fell in the eighth and 11th overs.

Liam Scott picked up three wickets while Jor­dan Buckingham and Lloyd Pope had two each to their names. Oa­k­ley, Tim OConnell and Noah Mcfayden dismissed one batter each.

Earlier after Shah­eens opted to bowl first, Strikers’ opener Jake Winter smashed a 61-ball 104 hitting six fours and eight sixes to take the game away from the visitors. He was joined by Harry Manenti (52 off 32, nine fours, one six) in the ninth over as the duo stitched a 73-run fourth-wicket partnership in 7.4 overs, taking their team from 57-3 to 130-4 in 15.4 overs when Manenti departed.

Sam Rahaley rema­ined unbeaten on 13 off 10 hitting one four as Winter was finally dismissed in the last over of the innings. For Sha­heens, Abbas took three wickets while Fa­i­sal Akram claimed two.

Scores in brief:

Adelaide Strikers won by 30 runs.

ADELAIDE STRIKERS 197-5 in 20 overs (Jake Winter 104, Harry Manenti 52; Mohammad Abbas Afridi 3-51, Faisal Akram 2-58); PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 167 in 18.1 overs (Mohammad Abbas Afridi 54, Usman Khan 32; Scott 3-44, Lloyd Pope 2-32, Jordan Buckingham 2-33).

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2024