Asif struck three sixes and six boundaries in his 33- ball knock. PHOTO: FILE
Half-centuries from openers Adnan Baig (54) and Asif Ali (53) helped UBL record an upset 22-run victory against HBL as the Ramazan T20 Cup got underway at the National Stadium yesterday.
Batting first, UBL posted 159 for four in their 20 overs courtesy a 95-run opening stand. Asif struck three sixes and six boundaries in his 33-ball knock. Ehsan Adil and Sarmad Anwar picked up two wickets apiece.
In reply, HBL could only make 137 for seven with Hasan Raza top-scoring with 50 off 39 balls, an innings that included two sixes and five boundaries. Seasoned campaigner Younus Khan chipped in with a useful 35 off 37 but the two contributions did not prove sufficient.
Quickies Shabbir Ahmed and Mohammad Irshad got a couple of wickets each.
HBL rue missing star players
HBL rued missing star players including Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad, fast-bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Shahid Afridi. While Afridi and Shehzad are touring with the Pakistan team, scheduled to contest limited-over series against the West Indies, Gul is still nursing an injury that ruled him out of the Champions Trophy last month.
“We didn’t have three match-winners and it affected our performance,” a HBL player told The Express Tribune. “But we’re confident of bouncing back.
“We are playing without our core bowling attack and in cricket it is your bowling that wins matches. But hopefully the youngsters will rise to the challenge as they have done before.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 7th, 2013.
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Give UBL some credit, HBL, who had no player that played for team except Shabbir Ahmed, the captain. The youngsters really outperformed them.