National One-Day Cup: Lions tame Stallions to reach final
Lahore side registers 46-run win; Karachi sides play other semi today.
Lions captain Azhar Ali failed to impress in his side’s semi-final win over Stallions after being dismissed for a golden duck. PHOTO: FILE AFP
KARACHI:
Youngster Qaiser Ashraf starred with a four-wicket haul to propel Lahore Lions into the final of the Faysal Bank One Day Cup as they inflicted a 46-run defeat to knock out Sialkot Stallions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The match was cut short to a 44-over affair after the start was delayed due to a light drizzle.
Stallions elected to field and saw Lions manage a respectable 232 all out in 44 overs. Left-hander Umar Siddique made 59 off 68 with nine boundaries, while Saad Nasim remained unbeaten on a 44-ball 55 launching four sixes and as many fours.
Usman Salahuddin played a sensible 44-run knock to stabilise the innings after Lions had lost two early wickets including skipper Azhar Ali, dismissed for a golden duck.
The target was revised to 232 in 44 overs as per the Duckworth/Lewis method.
However, Stallions ran out of steam and were dismissed for 192 in 42.4 overs. Shahid Yousuf made 40 while Ali Khan managed 36. Asif Raza took three wickets while Aizaz Cheema bagged two to support Qaiser.
Qaiser and Nasim were named joint man of the match.
Karachi outfits to vie for place in final
Meanwhile, Karachi teams – Dolphins and Zebras – will lock horns in the other semi-final today at the same venue.
Zebras, led by Faisal Iqbal, have enjoyed a superb tournament as they won their initial four group matches before the remaining two matches were washed out. On the other hand, Dolphins, led by fast-bowler Mohammad Sami, have posed enormous problems to the opposition.
They won their last three do-or-die matches to hit form at the perfect time ahead of the knockout stage of the tournament.
However, Faisal has was confident of seeing off the threat posed by Dolphins.
“We’ve got a pretty decent team which can beat Dolphins as well,” Faisal told The Express Tribune.
“This side won the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy despite not being a star-studded team. This shows that the players are good enough to compete with anybody and hopefully it will be a cracker of a game.”
Faisal is Zebras highest run-scorer with 240 in just four matches followed by Khurram Manzoor (199), Fakhar Zaman (163) and Akbarur Rehman (156). Off-spinner Misbah Khan has been their leading bowler with nine wickets.
Meanwhile, Dolphins’ main scorer has been Shahzaib Hasan (326), Saeed Bin Nasir (243) Khalid Latif (205) and Sarfraz Ahmed (113) while Sami has led from the front with 10 wickets while off-spinner Atif Maqbool has 11 scalps.
“Dolphins have hit form at just the right time and that could prove crucial in the context of the game,” said Sami.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2013.
Youngster Qaiser Ashraf starred with a four-wicket haul to propel Lahore Lions into the final of the Faysal Bank One Day Cup as they inflicted a 46-run defeat to knock out Sialkot Stallions at the Pindi Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The match was cut short to a 44-over affair after the start was delayed due to a light drizzle.
Stallions elected to field and saw Lions manage a respectable 232 all out in 44 overs. Left-hander Umar Siddique made 59 off 68 with nine boundaries, while Saad Nasim remained unbeaten on a 44-ball 55 launching four sixes and as many fours.
Usman Salahuddin played a sensible 44-run knock to stabilise the innings after Lions had lost two early wickets including skipper Azhar Ali, dismissed for a golden duck.
The target was revised to 232 in 44 overs as per the Duckworth/Lewis method.
However, Stallions ran out of steam and were dismissed for 192 in 42.4 overs. Shahid Yousuf made 40 while Ali Khan managed 36. Asif Raza took three wickets while Aizaz Cheema bagged two to support Qaiser.
Qaiser and Nasim were named joint man of the match.
Karachi outfits to vie for place in final
Meanwhile, Karachi teams – Dolphins and Zebras – will lock horns in the other semi-final today at the same venue.
Zebras, led by Faisal Iqbal, have enjoyed a superb tournament as they won their initial four group matches before the remaining two matches were washed out. On the other hand, Dolphins, led by fast-bowler Mohammad Sami, have posed enormous problems to the opposition.
They won their last three do-or-die matches to hit form at the perfect time ahead of the knockout stage of the tournament.
However, Faisal has was confident of seeing off the threat posed by Dolphins.
“We’ve got a pretty decent team which can beat Dolphins as well,” Faisal told The Express Tribune.
“This side won the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy despite not being a star-studded team. This shows that the players are good enough to compete with anybody and hopefully it will be a cracker of a game.”
Faisal is Zebras highest run-scorer with 240 in just four matches followed by Khurram Manzoor (199), Fakhar Zaman (163) and Akbarur Rehman (156). Off-spinner Misbah Khan has been their leading bowler with nine wickets.
Meanwhile, Dolphins’ main scorer has been Shahzaib Hasan (326), Saeed Bin Nasir (243) Khalid Latif (205) and Sarfraz Ahmed (113) while Sami has led from the front with 10 wickets while off-spinner Atif Maqbool has 11 scalps.
“Dolphins have hit form at just the right time and that could prove crucial in the context of the game,” said Sami.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2013.