Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup: ‘This is what T20 cricket is all about’

Rawalpindi captain Tanvir ecstatic after win in tense final.

LAHORE: There could not have been a more fitting finale to the Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup as Rawalpindi Rams edged past Karachi Dolphins in the Super Over.

Fans enjoyed Karachi post a competitive 164 on the board before Rawalpindi equalled the score but lost two wickets off the final two deliveries to take the match further.

Captain Sohail Tanvir, who lifted the trophy, attributed the success to his stint with the Indian Premier League. The all-rounder said that playing under Shane Warne in the Rajasthan Royals team helped him lead Rawalpindi to their first domestic Twenty20 title.

“My experience of playing under Shane Warne helped me,” Tanvir told The Express Tribune. “As a captain you must be on your toes when you need to make important decisions. I gave my players the much-needed confidence and they performed to the best of their ability,” added Tanvir.

Rawalpindi reached the final of a domestic Twenty20 championship for the first time and won in dramatic fashion. The underdogs were crowned the kings and their journey included thumping favourites Lahore Lions in the semi-final.

“This is a modern format of the game and is tough. We were the underdogs but still managed to win through hard work — this is the beauty of Twenty20,” said Tanvir.

Twenty20 cricket has come under stick in recent times but Tanvir said the format is not only entertaining for the fans but also required players to perform to the best of their ability.

“You cannot afford to make even a single mistake. All I did was play my cards accordingly. But at the end of the day it’s a team game and every player did well. Credit goes to them for this win,” said Tanvir.

Tense final Karachi batsman Rameez Raja continued his good form to help the side post a competitive total. Raja made 64 off just 46 deliveries as Karachi went to the innings-break confident of pulling off the win. Raza Hasan claimed three for 24 while the other bowlers were smashed all over the park.

Even after the interval, Rawalpindi struggled. They were reduced to 56 for four including the dismissal of opener Awais Zia who smashed a whirlwind 43. But a 41-run partnership between Umar Amin and Adnan Mufti seemed to have revived Rawalpindi.

Mohammad Sami, Karachi captain, provided the breakthrough but the scoreboard kept ticking. Amin occupied one end as Rawalpindi inched towards their target. Sohail Khan, who rocked the top-order, returned and claimed another wicket. He finished with five for 23 and finished his quota thinking that Karachi would somehow manage to scrape through.

An 18-run ninth wicket partnership off 13 balls levelled the score. However, Azam Hussain claimed two wickets in two balls as dramatic scenes followed. Rawalpindi batted first in the Super Over managing 16 while Karachi, after a six off the first ball, ended with seven to lose the final.

Tanvir, who was a relieved man after the win, said, “I was shocked but quickly had to overcome my disappointment. I was supposed to bowl the Super Over but I gave it to Hasan only because of his high confidence.”

Tournament’s best

Batsman: Rameez Raja (Karachi)

Bowler: Sohail Khan (Karachi)

Fielders: Misbahul Haq (Faisalabad) and Rameez Raja (Karachi)

Wicket-keepers: Kamran Akmal (Lahore) and Jamal Anwar (Rawalpindi)

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3^rd, 2011.

Correction: July 5, 2011

Due to a factual error, an earlier version of this article stated that Sarfaraz Ahmed was a wicket-keeper. The wicket-keepers were Kamran Akmal and Jamal Anwar.