National T20 Cup: Lahore Whites demolish Karachi Blues

Claim 73-run win as Umar Akmal, bowlers inspire in one-sided affair

KARACHI: Another inspired knock by Umar Akmal and some tight bowling helped Lahore Whites defeat Karachi Blues by a whopping 73 runs in their National T20 Cup tie at the Multan Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Opting to bat first, Lahore Whites managed 154-4, with Umar upping the ante in the last few overs with a superb 75 off 42 balls. Lahore managed to score 109 in their last 10 overs after a slow start from openers Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt.

In reply, last year’s finalists Karachi Blues were never in it after losing three wickets within three overs for just 11 runs.

Wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals and Karachi were dismissed for just 81, with the slow left-arm duo of Kamran Ghulam (3-13) and Kashif Bhatti (4-14) wreaking havoc.



Man-of-the-match Umar expressed his happiness at being able to help his side. “I have scored quite a few runs coming in at number three but I can perform wherever the team wants me to,” he said. “I try to play for the team and help them win.”

Bhatti’s wickets with the new ball meant Karachi were out of the equation almost from the get-go. “We had planned to post a target of 160 so after scoring 154 the bowlers had to bowl wicket to wicket and take wickets in the first six overs,” said Bhatti. “We achieved that, dismissing three batsmen, in the first three overs.”

Meanwhile, Karachi Blues had claimed a 17-run victory over FATA in the late match on Monday.

After scoring 151, FATA were restricted to 134 as Saeed Ajmal gave away 2-14 in his four overs.



Opting to bat first, Karachi Blues posted a total of 151 losing seven wickets as Hasan struck five fours and a six to his 48-ball 51 runs along with Fawad Alam and captain Muhammad Sami scoring 25 and 22 runs respectively. FATA’s Amer Yamin took three wickets with Bilal Asif taking two.

Chasing 152, FATA were restricted to 134-7 with the help of Ajmal’s brilliant bowling figures taking two wickets off just 14 runs in his four over spell along with Bilawal Bhatti taking two for 31 while Sami, Rumman Raees and Muhammad Asghar took one wicket a piece.

Ajmal said that he hopes to represent the side once again.

“It’s been two years since I’ve been out of cricket, we don’t get much chances to play in domestic too as my side Faisalabad and ZTBL both have gone down to grade two,” he said. “I have got a chance here and I am looking to take wickets and not give away runs.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2016.

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