Razzaq blasts Lahore to thrilling win in Twenty20 tournament

KARACHI: A breathtaking display of attacking strokeplay and brilliant bowling saw Lahore Lions clinch a thriller by three runs against Abbottabad Falcons in the National Twenty20 Championship that got underway at the Gaddafi Stadium yesterday.

After Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq propelled Lions to 165 for six with an attacking 60 off just 30 balls, Ahmed Said and Wajid Ali combined to add 82 for the Falcons to take them close to the total. However, fast-bowler Aizaz Cheema broke the partnership and, together with Shabbir Ahmed, ensured Falcons fell short by a whisker.

But it was Razzaq’s innings that set the tone for the match after former Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf chose to bat in front of the home crowd. After a slow start that saw the Lions lose three wickets for 37 runs, Razzaq first added 38 with opener Ahmed Shehzad before turning the match on its head with a whirlwind 80-run partnership with Raza Ali Dar. The all-rounder was eventually run out but not before he hit five fours and four sixes.

Multan outclass Peshawar

Imranullah Aslam smashed a whirlwind 57 off 27 deliveries as Multan Tigers defeated Peshawar Panthers by six wickets in the first match of the tournament. Younus Khan’s Panthers, put into bat, could only manage 124 for eight before Aslam made a mockery of the modest target to add to his two wickets earlier in the day. The 30-year-old hit six fours and four sixes as Tigers overhauled the target in the 17th over.

It was a disappointing performance by the Panthers after they were well-placed at 75 for one by the 11th over. However, after Riaz Afridi’s dismissal, Panthers collapsed as Aslam claimed the wicket of Younus for 22 and then added Jannisar Khan’s to finish with two for 13.

Zebras humiliated by Stallions

Defending champions Sialkot Stallions rode on Imran Nazir’s innings to register a thumping seven-wicket win over Karachi Zebras. Nazir made a mockery of the Zebras’ paltry total of 99 as he smashed an unbeaten 64 off just 42 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries and two sixes. Shoaib Malik, the Stallions captain, was not out on 14 as his team completed the job in just the 13th over.

Earlier, Zebras lost wickets at regular intervals as they struggled against the spin of Abdur Rehman and Adeel Malik. The duo claimed four wickets between them for 37 runs in eight overs as only three Zebras batsmen managed double figures. Pakistan players Khurram Manzoor, Hasan Raza and captain Faisal Iqbal contributed a meagre seven runs among them as 21-year-old Ali Asad scored the highest 33 off 35 deliveries.

Rana Navedul Hasan, who had his ban lifted by the Pakistan Cricket Board recently, started the Zebras’ rout after he dismissed Iqbal for six. He finished with one for 20 off four overs.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 11^th, 2010.