Stallions thrash Dolphins by nine wickets

Tigers inflict big defeat on Rams, Hawks outplay Bulls.

KARACHI: All-rounder Mukhtar Ahmed struck a six to complete his 48-ball century and took three wickets to help Sialkot Stallions achieve a nine-wicket win over Karachi Dolphin on Sunday at the National Stadium, Karachi.

Stallions are now leading Group A with eight points after four wins, while Dolphins trail with six points after three victories and a loss.

Chasing 150, opener Ahmed scored 100 off 48 deliveries, smashing four sixes and 13 boundaries as Stallions achieved their target with 4.2 overs remaining. Shahid Afridi took one wicket giving away 22 runs.

Earlier, Dolphins were restricted to 150-8 as Ahmed took three wickets for 28 runs, while Adeel Malik and Bilawal Bhatti bagged two scalps each. Asad Shafiq, the current top scorer of the tournament, scored 34 off 32 balls.

Tigers down Rams by eight wickets

In the other match of the day, Multan Tigers registered a shock eight-wicket win over former champions Rawalpindi Rams in their Group B match.

Chasing 163, Tigers reached the target with six overs to spare as two half-centuries by Shoaib Maqsood (51 off 29) and Zain Abbas (50 off 29) with some help from wicketkeeper Gulraiz Sadaf (34) and Zeeshan Ashraf (21) ensured victory.

Nasir Malik and Awais Zia claimed a wicket apiece for Rams.

Rams, who were asked to bat first, had posted 162-5 in their allotted 20 over as Umar Amin scored an unbeaten 72 off 54 balls, hitting two sixes and nine boundaries. However, Amin’s valiant effort went in vain as Rams were unable to deliver any other noteworthy performances.

Muhammad Irfan bagged three wickets, while Zulfiqar Babar and Rahat Ali picked up one scalp apiece.

Hawks achieve seven-wicket win over Bulls

In the opening match of the day, Azeem Ghumman’s half-century secured a seven-wicket win for Hyderabad Hawks against Larkana Bulls in the fourth match of their Group A fixture.



Pursuing 151, Hawks reached 154-3 with six deliveries remaining as Ghumman scored an unbeaten 50 off 41 balls, striking one six and three boundaries, while Faisal Akhtar also contributed with 47. Zahid Mehmood claimed two wickets for Bulls.

Earlier, Bulls were restricted to 151 in their allotted 20 overs as Farhan Ayub and Nauman Ali bagged two scalps each. Top scorers Ayaz Jamali and Ghulam Yasin scored 37 runs each for the losing team.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2014.

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