Pentangular Cup: K-P Fighters make it two in two

The side beat Federal United by 73 runs to go top of the table

KARACHI: Man-of-the-match Muhammad Rizwan’s 114 guided the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Fighters to a convincing 73-run win in the second match of the Haier Pentangular Cup against Federal United on Thursday as they claimed their second win in two days to go top of the table.

The K-P side were always in control after recording a massive 323 on the scoreboard in the first innings, with Rizwan making 114 and Israrullah and Shoaib Malik also impressing with knocks of 72 and 68 respectively.

Chasing such a massive target at nearly 6.5 runs an over, Federal United were always up against it and three wickets from skipper Junaid Khan ensured that United’s reply was a formality, especially when Kamran Akmal holed out to mid-on off Junaid in only the third over of the match.

United were reduced to 60-5 by the end of the 15^th over to effectively end the match but Sohail Tanvir’s defiant 43 off 29 balls in the latter overs lent some respectability to the Federal United score after Ali Sarfraz's 89-ball 60.

Malik also claimed two wickets with the ball to cap off an impressive all-round display and will be hoping to be in the reckoning for a World Cup spot after also impressing in the first match against the Sindh Knights. Taj Wali and Muhammad Sami were also among the wickets and claimed a brace each.

The two victims of Fighters, Sindh Knights and Federal United, will now face off in today’s match.

Gul claims he is fit for the World Cup

Currently Pakistan’s most experienced fast bowler Umar Gul, who underwent surgery for his knee injury last month, said that he is ready and fit to play in all formats and is optimistic of being part of the 15-member squad for the 2015 World Cup.

Gul suffered a recurrence of his injury after he was recalled for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka. He suffered a relapse again during the series against New Zealand last month but feels he is now fully fit.

“I am back to full fitness as I gave 17 different tests in the National Cricket Academy after recovering from my knee injury and have also showed my fitness to the selection committee,” said Gul during a press conference at the National Stadium of Karachi.

Earlier, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan had indicated that Gul may not be considered for the World Cup. “The reports about Gul are not very encouraging and there is a very slim chance that he will be considered for the final World Cup squad," Shaharyar said last month.

Gul has appeared in 47 Tests, 125 ODIs and 57 T20Is and has taken 173 ODI wickets and 163 Test wickets for Pakistan. The experienced pacer rued missing the test matches against Australia and New Zealand.

 

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