Abbas, Yasin shine in thumping KRL win

Team registers massive 10-wicket win over NBP at Ramazan T20 Cup.

KARACHI: KRL’s duo of Zain Abbas and Mohammad Yasin hit unbeaten half-centuries to help their side to a stunning 10-wicket win against NBP at the Advance Telecom Ramazan T20 Cup at the National Stadium, Karachi.

While KRL opened their account in Group B with a thumping win, NBP were left ruing a second successive loss that seriously dented their semi-final hopes.

Set a target of 133, KRL won with two overs to spare as 21-year-old Abbas hit 68 off 58 deliveries, an innings that featured three sixes and seven boundaries. Twenty-three-year-old Yasin hit a 50-ball 61, laced with two sixes and eight strikes to the fence.

Earlier, NBP made 132 for seven in their allotted 20 overs. All-rounder Hammad Azam hit a whirlwind 33 off 21 balls to give his team’s total some respectability at the end.

Aqeel Anjum (31) and Sami Aslam (28) chipped in with useful knocks after the early dismissals of skipper Kamran Akmal (3) and Umair Khan (0).

Departmental cricket providing new talent: Latif

Former captain Rashid Latif, who is looking after Port Qasim that are currently Group B leaders, said he was pleased to see departmental teams doing well.

“We’ve seen many talented players in this event,” Latif told The Express Tribune. “The likes of Babar Azam, Zain, Hussain Talat and others have been promoted by departments because regions don’t provide them an opportunity to play domestic T20 tournaments. This is the reason why departmental cricket is so important for Pakistan.”

He also lauded the young blood for making the most of their opportunities in absence of the senior players, who are currently occupied with foreign tours.

“It’s not easy to come out and play well in these kind of matches but it’s heartening to see so many players doing well.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2013.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.