Staking a claim: Umar Akmal impressed in Punjab’s three-wicket win and will hope to book a place in the final 15-man World Cup squad. Photo: Mohammad Azeem/Express
KARACHI: Some impressive bowling from leg-spinner Raza Hasan and a superb knock by Ali Waqas guided Punjab Badshah to a three-wicket win against Federal United in their opening match of the Haier Pentangular Cup at the National Stadium of Karachi on Monday.
Chasing 313, Badshahs lost an early wicket as Sohail Tanvir dismissed Nasir Jamshed for 15 in the seventh over but Waqas held the innings together with an excellent knock of 99 off 98 and was unfortunate to miss out on a century as an Umar-Gul bouncer went into the hands of Kamran Akmal after clipping Waqas’ gloves.
Badshah’s Shahid Yousuf also batted well, scoring 75 off 85 balls but was caught by Shan Masood on Abdur Rehman’s bowling while Umar Akmal smashed a quick 70 off 50. Despite losing three quick wickets in the last four overs, the Punjab side succeeded in reaching the target with two balls remaining.
Earlier, batting first, United made 312 as Raza impressed with a five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick in the second-last over of the match.
Kamran Akmal was dismissed on the very first ball of the match, leg before wicket on Muhammad Talha’s delivery. Skipper Umar Amin then scored 110 off 96 balls but was sent packing by Raza.
Amin was involved in two 107-run partnerships, first with Babar Azam who scored 59 and then with Ali Sarfaraz who made 39.
After dismissing Amin, Raza dismissed Ali Sarfaraz on the next ball, whose 39 came off just 34 balls, and then completed his hat-trick by sending back Tanvir on a golden duck. He then took the wicket of Abdur Rehman to end with figures of 5-61. Wahab Riaz claimed 2-58, while Talha took 1-56.
Hasan told The Express Tribune that he tried to give the same performance as he had in the Quaid-eAzam Trophy Gold and is now hopeful of a place in the 15-man squad. “I am trying to do my best to book a place in the 15-member team,” he said. “Today the batting and bowling both did well together, which made us win our opening match and we hope to win the others as well.”
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