RAWALPINDI: Inspired by a captain’s innings from Younis Khan, Abbottabad crushed the aspirations of Lahore Whites in a clinical 83-run rout of former champions in the Cool & Cool presents Haier Mobile T20 Cup match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Holders Peshawar were the day’s other notable winners, defeating the aging Faisalabad side by five wickets, while Sialkot experienced another close shave before overcoming Hyderabad by just four runs in the first of two matches at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad.

Bahawalpur, meanwhile, upset Karachi Whites by 42 runs at the Diamond Club Ground. It was Karachi Whites’ second straight loss in Group ‘A’, having already lost to Sialkot by seven runs on Tuesday afternoon.

But it was Abbottabad who stole the day’s honours against a side containing seven current members of the national side. Azhar Ali’s decision to field first after winning the toss backfired badly.

Former Pakistan batsman Yasir Hameed dominated the early play with magnificent strokes on both sides of the field.

His opening stand with Fakhar Zaman (10) yielded 47 before Abbottabad the left-hander at the start of the sixth over.

The gangling Mohammad Irfan — who is playing for Lahore Whites instead of Multan — and Aizaz Cheema failed to make much impression on Yasir who then greeted Wahab Riaz with three boundaries in the let-arm fast bowler’s opening over.

Yasir was bowled by occasional seamer Hussain Talat for 67 with his 43-ball innings featuring nine fours and two sixes.

Younis, who had added 61 with Yasir, then took over to slam eight fours and one six before being caught off Irfan for a 39-ball 61.

Younis shared a 57-run partnership of 57 with Sajjad Ali who scored 38 from 24 balls (three fours and one six). Adnan Raees made a quick 16 as Abbottabad collected an impressive 198-3.

Wahab’s four overs went wicketless as Pakistan’s strike bowler conceded 39 runs; Irfan gave way 32 for one wicket while Aizaz was taken for 49 runs in four overs.

But still Lahore Whites were expected to win with their formidable bating line-up. But Abbottabad never let them have a chance. Umar Akmal fell to leg-spinner Yasir Shah to leave Lahore Whites struggling at 68-3 in the ninth over. They were ultimately bowled out for 115 in 16 overs.

All-rounder Khalid Usman created havoc for the Lahore batsmen with his slow let-armers fetching him career-best figures of five for 26 in four sensational overs. Among his victim were Mohammad Hafeez (31 off 25 balls, four fours) and the big-hitting Saad Nasim (19 off 11, two sixes and one four).

Junaid Khan and Yasir Shah chipped in with two wickets apiece but it was Khalid’s deadly spell that earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Iftikhar Ahmed’s undefeated contribution of 51 (34 balls, four fours and two sixes) enabled Peshawar chase down Faisalabad’s inadequate total of 133-9 with seven balls to spare in the Group ‘B’ game.

The 25-year-old had earlier taken two for 31 with his off-breaks in an all-round performance won him the man-of-the-match prize.

Misbah was Faisalabad’s top scorer as the Pakistan Test skipper scored 38 off 33 balls with the aid of three fours and two sixes.

Let-arm seamer Imran Khan Jr was the chief destroyer with his best-ever T20 return of 4-20 with Test paceman Mohammad Imran Khan taking 2-34.

Bilal Asif was Sialkot’s star with a grand all-round show against Hyderabad. After being put in, Sialkot found themselves in tatters at 73-4 but Bilal (53 off 38 balls, seven fours and one six) and captain Shoaib Malik (52 off 28, four fours and three sixes) guided them to 163-7.

Hyderabad needed a big innings from someone to win the game but even small contributions had Sialkot sweating.

Hyderabad ended up making 159-9. Paceman Ammad Butt was expensive in taking 3-50 but man-of-the-match Bilal was brilliant in grabbing three wickets for 11 runs in four decent overs of off-spin bowling.

Faisal Mubashir (56 not out off 47, five fours) and Moinuddin (58 off 33, six fours and two sixes) helped Bahawalpur get 174-4. Karachi Whites, in reply, were dismissed for 132 with off-spinner Saadat Munir capturing 3-28.

Faisal Iqbal’s return from a four-match domestic ban proved futile as the Test discard made just 10 runs.

Rawalpindi, who were in action against Multan in Wednesday’s last fixture, meanwhile completed a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Bahawalpur in Tuesday night’s remaining encounter.

Playing in front of a vociferous crowd who egged on the home team, Rawalpindi curtailed Bahawalpur to a modest 125-9 after skipper Kamran Hussain elected to bat first.

Left-arm paceman Mohammad Amir, playing his fifth match in the mainstream domestic circuit since returning to action after serving out his spot-fixing ban, grabbed three wickets for 23 runs.

Rawalpindi lost Awais Zia to the very first ball of the chase but Naved Malik (51 off 43 balls, four sixes and four fours) then joined Nasir Jamshed — opting to play as a guest player instead of representing native Lahore — effortlessly put on 108 to set up the victory which arrived at the start of the 16th over.

Nasir was adjudged man-of-the-match for his 36-ball 62 that included eight boundaries and one six.

Wednesday’s results:

Group ‘A:

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: Sialkot beat Hyderabad by four runs.

SIALKOT 163-7 in 20 overs (Bilal Asif 53, Shoaib Malik 52, Haris Sohail 25; Babar Khan 2-20, Nauman Ali 2-33); HYDERABAD 159-9 in 20 overs (Shoaib Leghari 29, Azeem Ghumman 23; Bilal Asif 3-11, Ammad Butt 3-50)

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: Bahawalpur beat Karachi Whites by 42 runs.

BAHAWALPUR 174-4 in 20 overs (Moinuddin 58, Faisal Mubashir 56 not out, Aamir Ijaz 31); KARACHI WHITES 132 in 19.4 overs (Shaharyar Ghani 32, Ahsan Ali 28; Saadat Munir 3-28, Kamran Hussain 2-26, Zahir Siddiqui 2-31).

Group ‘B’:

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: Abbottabad beat Lahore Whites by 83 runs.

ABBOTTABAD 198-3 in 20 overs (Yasir Hameed 67, Younis Khan 61, Sajjad Ali 38 not out); LAHORE WHITES 115 in 16 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 31; Khalid Usman 5-26, Junaid Khan 2-19, Yasir Shah 2-22).

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: Peshawar beat Faisalabad by five wickets.

FAISALABAD 133-9 in 20 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 38, Asif Ali 24, Khurram Shehzad 22; Imran Khan Jr 4-20, Iftikhar Ahmed 2-31, Mohammad Imran Khan 2-34); PESHAWAR 134-5 in 18.5 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 51 not out, Israrullah 20; Imran Khalid 2-22).

Tuesday’s remaining result:

Group ‘B’:

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi beat Bahawalpur by seven wickets.

BAHAWALPUR 125-9 in 20 overs (Aamir Ijaz 33; Mohammad Amir 3-23, Hammad Azam 2-22); RAWALPINDI 129-3 in 15.1 overs (Nasir Jamshed 62, Naved Malik 51).

Thursday’s fixtures:

Faisalabad vs Karachi Blues (Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad, 10:00am); Hyderabad vs Bahawalpur (Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, 12:00noon); Sialkot vs Multan (Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad, 2:00pm); Islamabad vs Peshawar (Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, 4:00pm); Rawalpindi vs Karachi Whites (Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, 8:00pm).

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2015

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