LAHORE: Paceman Sarmad Anwar grabbed three wickets to help Sialkot Stallions defeat Hyderabad Hawks by 33 runs in the crucial Group ‘A’ fixture of the Faysal Bank Super Eight Twenty20 Cup at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Monday.
The Hawks, having already secured victory over Islamabad Leopards, were dismissed for 150 in the 19th over while chasing a 184-run target. In-form opener Sharjeel Khan had given his side the perfect launching pad as and skipper Azeem Ghumman added 75 for the opening wicket. Azeem departed after scoring 32 off 21 balls but Sharjeel continued to plunder the bowling as he hammered six sixes and five fours in a fine knock of 74 from 41 deliveries.
But Sarmad, who had dismissed Azeem, turned the match in favour of the Stallions by picking up two more wickets to finish with three for 23. Slow left-armer Abdur Rehman grabbed two for 28. However, the prized scalp of Sharjeel was taken by skipper Shoaib Malik. Earlier, the Stallions, who had badly lost to Lahore Lions on Saturday, posted 183-5 with Shahid Yousuf hitting four sixes and one six in a 35-ball 48. Mansoor Amjad and Shoaib Malik each scored 39.
Nasir Awais was the main wicket-taker for the Hawks with two for 32.
Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Rams scored a shock four-wicket win over Faisalabad Wolves in Sunday night’s late game.
Good bowling by Sohail Tanvir (2-23) and Raza Hasan (2-29) enabled the Rams to curtail the Wolves to only 140-7 in 20 overs with Misbah-ul-Haq scoring 36 off 42 balls with four fours.
Naveed Malik led the chase with 55, a 30ball knock that included six fours and three sixes. His cameo eventually inspired the Rams to achieve their target by making 142-6 in 16.4 overs. Awais Zia, who made 37 off 27 balls with four fours and two sixes, also played a key role as and Naveed put on 91 for the first wicket.
Mohammad Hafeez, who fell without scoring first ball for the second game running, took three wickets for 24.
Results: Sialkot Stallions beat Hyderabad Hawks by 33 runs.
SIALKOT STALLIONS 183-5 in 20 overs (Shahid Yousuf 48, Mansoor Amjad 39, Shoaib Malik 39; Nasir Awais 2-32); HYDERABAD HAWKS 150 in 18.2 overs (Sharjeel Khan 74, Azeem Ghumman 32; Sarmad Anwar 3-23, Abdur Rehman 2-28).
Rawalpindi Rams beat Faisalabad Wolves by four wickets.
FAISALABAD WOLVES 140-7 in 20 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 36, Khurram Shahzad 21; Sohail Tanvir 2-21, Raza Hasan 2-29); RAWALPINDI RAMS 142-6 in 16.4 overs (Naveed Malik 55, Awais Zia 37, Jamal Anwar 19 not out; Mohammad Hafeez 3-24).
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