National T20 Cup: Peshawar off to winning start

Two-time defending champions condemn Karachi Whites to second consecutive defeat

KARACHI: Two-time defending champions Peshawar continued from where they left off last year with a narrow three-wicket win over Karachi Whites, who lost their second match on day two of the National T20 Cup at the Rawalpindi Stadium yesterday.

Opting to bat first, Karachi Whites were restricted to 152-5 as Imran Khan Jr took 2-19 runs in his four overs, once again bamboozling the batsmen with his mixture of slower deliveries and yorkers.

Karachi Whites’ captain Akbarur Rehman was the top scorer, with 48.

In reply, Peshawar reached 154 with two balls and three wickets to spare as wicketkeeper batsman and man-of-the-match Rafatullah Mohmand scored 49 runs off 30 balls. Anwar Ali struck a six when Peshawar needed five runs off three balls to win the match.

Winning skipper Zohaib Khan praised his side’s effort, singling out Rafatullah and Imran.

“Rafatullah has always batted like this, keeping the strike rate high, while Imran has been bowling well and today he had brilliant figures,” he said. “We wish to keep our performance like this in the upcoming matches as well.”

FATA consign hosts Pindi to losing start

Skipper Fawad Khan and pacer Asif Ali helped FATA register their first victory over Rawalpindi, defeating them by 15 runs.

Opting to bat first, FATA posted 162-5 as man-of-the-match Fawad struck a 51-ball 94 with seven fours and eight sixes.

Chasing 163, Rawalpindi were restricted to 147-9 as Ali claimed 4-20 in his four overs, while Muhammad Imran also impressed with 2-21.

“It was my day today and as a captain I had to stay at the crease as the team was falling apart. But at the same time I had to keep the score ticking,” Fawad told The Express Tribune. “Ali also bowled really well by taking wickets and starving their batsmen for runs.”

Lahore Whites defeat cross-town rivals

In Thursday’s late match, a 163-run stand between openers Kamran Akmal (81) and Salman Butt (84 not out) helped Lahore Whites chase down a mammoth total of 182-5 in just 16.3 overs with nine wickets to spare.

Batting first, Lahore Blues posted 182-5 with Nasir Jamshed (46) being the top scorer but it didn’t prove enough. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2016.

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