National T20 Cup: Peshawar continue winning streak

Cement billing as favourites with simple 36-run win over Islamabad

KARACHI: Half-centuries by Rafatullah Mohmand and Sohaib Maqsood guided two-time defending champions Peshawar to their second consecutive victory as they defeated Islamabad by 36 runs in the National T20 Cup at the Rawalpindi Stadium yesterday.

Batting first, Peshawar posted a total of 176-4, with Mohmand scoring 66 off 51 balls and forming a 76-run opening stand with Israrullah who scored 42 off 33.

Peshawar lost the momentum in the middle of the innings but man-of-the-match Maqsood hit 51 runs off 22 balls to give his side control of proceedings. Experienced left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman was the pick of the bowlers as he took 1-23 in his four overs.



Chasing 177, Islamabad were restricted to 140-5 as Imran Khan Junior and Imran Khalid both took 2-22 in their four overs.

“I was confident of taking wickets today as Islamabad are not as strong as other sides and the seniors in the team supported me well too,” Imran told The Express Tribune. “I will be trying to do my best throughout the tournament to improve my stats and be considered for the national side.”

Nasim inspires Lahore

Lahore Blues got their first points in their second match as they defeated FATA by six wickets with the help of an unbeaten half-century by Saad Nasim.

Chasing 140, Lahore Blues reached 143-4 in 18.5 overs despite a nightmare start to the game that saw them reduced to 14-3 in 5.1 overs.



Nasim kept his head though, despite the loss of their star top three that features former internationals Nasir Jamshed, Ahmad Shahzad and Nauman Anwar.

Nasim’s unbeaten 66 off 39 balls guided Lahore home with more than an over to spare as he was well supported first by Naved Yasin (38 off 33) and then by Raza Ali Dar (30 off 15)

FATA had earlier been restricted to 139-7 with left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar (2-22) and pacer Fahim Ashraf (2-28) being among the wickets.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2016.

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