National T20 Cup: Faisalabad bag seven-wicket victory

Sohaib Maqsood blasts unbeaten 80 in 187-run chase against Lahore Blues

KARACHI: An unbeaten 42-ball 80 by right-handed batsman Sohaib Maqsood guided Faisalabad to a seven-wicket win over Lahore Blues in the fifth match of National T20 Cup at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.

After being invited to bat first, Lahore were helped by left-handed opener Imamul Haq’s 50 off 31 balls to a total of 187-5.

Right-handed batsman Babar Azam and left-handed batsman Hussain Talat also made important contributions of 45 and 43 respectively.

Faisalabad off-spinner Saeed Ajmal bagged three wickets for his team, leaking away just 26 runs in his four overs.

Faisalabad, in their chase, were given a good start by opener Sahibzada Farhan (58 off 44 balls), but Maqsood later came in and hit seven sixes and three fours to see his team past the finish line.

Right-hand batsman Asif Ali, on the other side, scored 42 off just 17 balls courtesy five fours and three sixes to help Maqsood and Faisalabad.

Off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez, Khalid Usman and Hussain Talat bagged one wicket each for Lahore Blues.

“We were yearning for such a victory which could inspire us to play like a unit,” said Ajmal while talking to The Express Tribune. “Our batsmen played brilliantly even after being asked to chase a difficult target.”

He then clarified Faisalabad strategy then in the competition. “We are taking games one by one. Our bowlers will have to work a bit more on getting wickets, if they can manage that, then that will take the load off our batsmen,” he added.