Faysal Bank T20 Cup: Shahzeb scores scintillating ton

Openers guide PQA to thrilling win over WAPDA

KARACHI: Pakistan international Shahzeb Hasan scored a stroke-filled century as PQA recorded a thrilling nine-run win over Wapda in the Group B fixture of the Faysal Bank T20 Cup 20 tournament taking place in Lahore.

Shahzeb’s knock was studded with three sixes and eight boundaries and came off 67 balls. Khalid Latif also contributed with his 45-run knock. The Karachi based opening pair were involved in a century stand that laid the foundations of an imposing score for their team as PQA amassed 190 runs for four wickets in the allotted 20 overs.

In reply, Wapda’s Adnan Raees and Aamer Sajjad added 90 runs for their unbroken fourth-wicket stand. However, they failed to overhaul the target as Raees hit 57 off a mere 27 balls with two sixes and seven fours.  Sajjad narrowly missed out on his half-century as the power men failed to reach a steep target despite their efforts.

In an earlier match, State Bank crashed to a paltry 76 runs in their Group A tie against NBP.  The NBP bowlers took full advantage of difficult batting conditions to send their rivals packing for a meagre score.

Hammad Azam, who failed to win a place in the Twenty20 squad for the three-match series against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in the UAE, ensured a win for NBP with an unbeaten 27-run knock to follow his two wickets haul with the ball. The all-rounder was named man of the match for his efforts.

United Bank defeat PIA by 9 wickets

In a one-sided tie, United Bank steamrolled PIA by nine wickets. The Airliners mustered a mere 133 runs for five wickets in their 20 overs quota.  Discarded Test batsman Faisal Iqbal scored 33 runs off a 18 balls and his innings included two sixes and two fours.

Meanwhile, an unbroken third-wicket stand between Abid Ali (68) and Wajihuddin (50) ensured a comfortable win for the bankers. Ali scored 62 runs off only 52 balls as he struck eight fours. Wajihuddin’s half-century was laced with four strikes to the fence and a solitary six.

In another match played at the LCCA ground, PTV went past KRL in another Group A tie. The winners chased down a target of 145 runs for the loss of seven wickets to record their win.

Nawaz Ahmed, who scored a half-century for PTV, was declared man of the match. He ensured a victory for his team after they kept losing wickets at regular intervals in their bid to overhaul the target.