LAHORE: Gujranwala Giants registered their first victory in the Pakistan Junior League when they beat Rawalpindi Raiders by four wickets here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

The victory kept the Giant’s hopes to secure a playoff berth alive a day after Mardan Warriors became the first team to qualify for the league’s knockout stage thanks to a win over Hyderabad Hunters.

The Gujranwala outfit was helped by an unbeaten half-century from captain Uzair Mumtaz and another from Sri Lankan southpaw Shelvon Daniel to chase down the 129-run target with three balls to spare.

After the Giants lost openers Hamza Nawaz and Azan Awaiz early, Uzair and Daniel built up a partnership with caution before accelerating their innings as the asking rate increased.

Both Daniel and Uzair smashed three fours and two sixes each, facing 41 and 42 balls in their respective knocks off 50 and 56 not out.

Ali Raza was Rawalpindi Raiders’ pick of the bowlers with two wickets.

After being put in to bat, Raiders were boosted by a 53-ball 55 from their captain Habibullah. The right-hander added 65 runs with Ali Ishaq as Matthew Tromp and Mohammad Ibtisam bagged three wickets each for the Giants.

HASEEB INSPIRES MARDAN

On Thursday night, a fine unbeaten 49 from Haseeb Khan inspired Mardan Warriors to a four-wicket victory against Hyderabad Hunters.

Haseeb hit five fours and a six in his 39-ball knock as the Warriors chased down the 129-run target in 19.2 overs to register their third win in four matches.

Haseeb’s 47-run partnership with wicket-keeper/batter Daud Nazar, who hit two fours and a six in his 14-ball knock for 25, proved crucial for the Warriors after they made a sluggish start, losing dangerman George Thomas, Olly Cox and captain Abbas Ali early.

All three were dismissed by Ali Naseer before Shahzaib Khan steadied the Warriors’ ship with a 35-ball 33 to provide Haseeb and Daud the platform to go big.

Earlier, it was Ali’s unbeaten 54 that kept the Hunters in the hunt after a top and middle-order failure saw them reduced to 65-6 in 11.5 overs. The left-handed Ali found able support from Zubair as the two added 63 runs in their unbroken partnership to help their side reach 128-6.

Ali hit four fours and two sixes in his 37-bal innings while Zubair smashed an unbeaten eight-ball 16.

For the Warriors, Mohammad Irfan and Archie Lenham took two wickets each.

It was a fourth-straight loss for the Hunters, which meant their playoff hopes were quashed.

Scores in brief:

Mardan Warriors beat Hyderabad Hunters by four wickets

HYDERABAD HUNTERS 128-6 in 20 overs (Ali Naseer 54, Arbaz Khan 22; Mohammad Irfan 2-17); MARDAN WARRIORS 133-6 in 19.2 overs (Haseeb Khan 49 not out, Shahzaib Khan 33; Ali Naseer 3-38)

Gujranwala Giants beat Rawalpindi Raiders by four wickets

RAWALPINDI RAIDERS 128 in 19.3 overs (Habibullah 55, Ali Ishaq 26; Matthew Tromp 3-19, Mohammad Ibtisam 3-23); GUJRANWALA GIANTS 129-6 in 18.1 overs (Uzair Mumtaz 56 not out, Shevon Daniel 50; Ali Raza 2-25).

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2022