Pentangular Cup: Federal chase down 317-run target on the last ball

Kamran Akmal and Awais Zia inspire United to their first win over Sindh Knights.

KARACHI:

Impressive attacking half-centuries from Kamran Akmal and Awais Zia guided Federal United to a narrow one-wicket win over Sindh Knights in their second match of the Haier Pentangular Cup at the National Stadium of Karachi yesterday.

Chasing 317, Federal United reached their target off the last ball of the match, when they needed one run off one ball with one wicket remaining. Ali Sarfraz played a lofted shot over the bowlers head to the long-off fence for four to win the match.

United’s openers Kamran Akmal and Imran Farhat laid the foundation with a 99-run opening stand, which was ended when Faisal Iqbal made no mistake to take the catch off Tabish Khan’s delivery to dismiss Farhat on 44.

Awais Zia was the next man in and he built another attacking partnership with Akmal of 56 runs which ended when Akmal was bowled by Knights captain Alam after scoring 78 off 69 with eight fours and three sixes. However, by the time Akmal departed, federal were in a commanding position at 155-2 in 24.1 overs.

But there was still work to be done and Zia and Umer Amin then posted 86 off 79 balls before Zia was bowled by Sohail Khan after scoring 87 off 77 balls. Sohail hit Babar Azam on the toes with a searing yorker first up to dismiss the batsman leg before on a golden duck.

Five wickets fell in the final eight overs as Sohail again took two in the 48th, while Junaid Ilyas took one and Faisal Iqbal ran out Umar Gul, but it was not enough.

Earlier, batting first, Sindh Knights had posted a total of 316-5 as Asad Shafiq narrowly missed out on a century; dismissed on 98 runs off 101 balls.

Alam scored an impressive unbeaten 90 off 58 balls and opener Khalid Latif also batted well, scoring 79 off 95 balls.

Ahmed Jamal took two wickets for Federal United — including the big wicket of Shafiq — and Gul and Abdur Rehman claimed one each.

Meanwhile, United's Sohail Tanvir said after the match that, “The pitch was a batting wicket due to which we saw a good total in the last two matches. The last 10 overs are the main overs to score for a team owing to the new fielding rules.”

The all-rounder is also hoping for a spot in the World Cup 15-man squad. “I am trying my best to perform in this cup and stake a claim for a place in the 15-member squad,” he added. “This tournament is the road to the World Cup and that is why I have turned down a contract for the T20 Big Bash League in Australia.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd,  2015.

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