Rams outrun Tigers in T20 Cup
Rawalpindi beat Multan, Afghan Cheetas lose both matches at National Stadium.
KARACHI:
Rawalpindi Rams won their second successive match and did their semi-finals chances no harm in a five-wicket defeat of the hapless Multan Tigers in the Faysal Bank T20 Cup.
Rawalpindi, who could have been hosting the event if it was not for a poor state of the stadium, were indebted to Awais Zia again as the opener scored his second half-century of the tournament. Chasing 152 to keep their 100% record, Rams lost a wicket off the seventh ball of their innings but useful contributions from the rest of the batsmen allowed them to cruise past the finish line.
Zia scored 52 while Test discard Umar Amin managed a composed 21 off 23 balls.
Earlier, opting to bat first, Multan lost three wickets without a run towards the end of their innings and finished on 151 for nine off their quota. Only three batsmen managed decent contribution as the Tigers looked on course for a competitive target despite a strong bowling attack in front of them.
Mohammad Rameez did the damage with the ball at both ends of the innings as the Tigers were left toothless, losing their second match in a row to end their chances of a last-four slot.
Wolves down Cheetas
Faislabad Wolves survived a superb knock by Gulbodin Naib and won their second successive match of the tournament, beating Afghan Cheetas by 13 runs. Wolves, who posted 145 on the board, saw Naib hit a potentially match-winning 68, off just 42 deliveries, before off-spinner Saeed Ajmal provided the crucial breakthrough. However, there was no support from the other end with Karim Sadiq being the only other notable scorer with 20. Abdur Rauf took two for 29 and Imran Khalid also chipped in with two wickets.
Earlier, Mohammad Salman and opener Asif Hussain put on 52 for the second wicket to take Faisalabad to a competitive total.
Cheetas Rammed on debut
Earlier, in their opening match, Afghan Cheetas lost to Rawalpindi Rams despite a spirited fightback.
Cheetas scored a fighting 162 for four, scoring almost 100 runs in the second half of their innings. At 29 for two in the sixth over, the Afghan team were looking down the barrel but cameos from Samiullah Shenwari (52 off 32) and Najibullah Zadran (51 off 34) gave their score respectability and their bowlers a lot of confidence.
In reply, they restricted Rawalpindi to 49 for three but opener Zia (60) and Amin (43) staged a fightback. The win was sealed with a six down the ground by all-rounder Hammad Azam who cored 24 off just 14 to take his side past the finish line.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2011.
Rawalpindi Rams won their second successive match and did their semi-finals chances no harm in a five-wicket defeat of the hapless Multan Tigers in the Faysal Bank T20 Cup.
Rawalpindi, who could have been hosting the event if it was not for a poor state of the stadium, were indebted to Awais Zia again as the opener scored his second half-century of the tournament. Chasing 152 to keep their 100% record, Rams lost a wicket off the seventh ball of their innings but useful contributions from the rest of the batsmen allowed them to cruise past the finish line.
Zia scored 52 while Test discard Umar Amin managed a composed 21 off 23 balls.
Earlier, opting to bat first, Multan lost three wickets without a run towards the end of their innings and finished on 151 for nine off their quota. Only three batsmen managed decent contribution as the Tigers looked on course for a competitive target despite a strong bowling attack in front of them.
Mohammad Rameez did the damage with the ball at both ends of the innings as the Tigers were left toothless, losing their second match in a row to end their chances of a last-four slot.
Wolves down Cheetas
Faislabad Wolves survived a superb knock by Gulbodin Naib and won their second successive match of the tournament, beating Afghan Cheetas by 13 runs. Wolves, who posted 145 on the board, saw Naib hit a potentially match-winning 68, off just 42 deliveries, before off-spinner Saeed Ajmal provided the crucial breakthrough. However, there was no support from the other end with Karim Sadiq being the only other notable scorer with 20. Abdur Rauf took two for 29 and Imran Khalid also chipped in with two wickets.
Earlier, Mohammad Salman and opener Asif Hussain put on 52 for the second wicket to take Faisalabad to a competitive total.
Cheetas Rammed on debut
Earlier, in their opening match, Afghan Cheetas lost to Rawalpindi Rams despite a spirited fightback.
Cheetas scored a fighting 162 for four, scoring almost 100 runs in the second half of their innings. At 29 for two in the sixth over, the Afghan team were looking down the barrel but cameos from Samiullah Shenwari (52 off 32) and Najibullah Zadran (51 off 34) gave their score respectability and their bowlers a lot of confidence.
In reply, they restricted Rawalpindi to 49 for three but opener Zia (60) and Amin (43) staged a fightback. The win was sealed with a six down the ground by all-rounder Hammad Azam who cored 24 off just 14 to take his side past the finish line.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2011.