Spectacular victory: Sindh trounces Islamabad by 119 runs

KARACHI: A record opening stand of 198 runs between Khurram Manzoor and Sami Aslam and a five-wicket haul by Muhammad Aamir guided Sindh to their second win, defeating Islamabad by a huge 119-run margin in their fifth match of Pakistan Cup one-day tournament at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Saturday. Batting first, Sindh posted a total of 336 runs for the loss of six wickets in 50 overs. Khurram bludgeoned 123 runs off 90 balls with the help of 16 fours and three sixes, while Aslam struck 75 off 86 balls hitting seven fours and a six. Chasing a big total of 337, Islamabad, despite a 73-run hit off 59 balls by skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, were restricted to 218 runs in 39.5 overs as Aamir took five wickets by giving away 36 runs in his 7.5 overs. The young under-19 player Hasan Khan took one for 80 in his nine overs.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2016.