Rams performed with both bat and ball to win the opening match of the Super8 T20 Cup by six wickets against Abbottabad Falcons at the Iqbal Ground in Faisalabad on Monday. PHOTO: INP
Asked to bat first, Falcons were dismissed for 109 runs in 19.1 overs as Azam registered figures of 4-12 in three overs, while Amir made headlines with a wicket off his first legal delivery upon his return after a five-year ban, before adding a second with the first ball of his third over to end with figures of 2-15.
Muhammad Asghar dismissed two Falcons batsmen while conceding 21 runs in his four overs, while Zahid Mansoor claimed 1-5.
Fakhar Zaman top-scored for Falcons with 46 runs off 37 balls, with Adnan Raees being the only other Falcons batsman to reach double figures — making 34 off 37 balls.
In reply, Rams reached the target in 17 overs as Naveed Malik scored 39 off 24 balls, smashing four boundaries and three sixes, while Zahid Mansoor struck 32 off 29, hitting three fours and one six. Tayyab Riaz and Sohail Tanvir scored 10 runs apiece.
The 23-year old Amir resumed his cricketing duties while playing for Omar Associates in the four-day Patron’s Cup Grade II competition during which he claimed 22 wickets in five matches to take his team to the final, which he was unable to play due to injury.
“Amir has made a good attacking comeback in the shortest format and earlier his performance in the longer format shows his fitness levels are still from the top drawer,” Rams coach Sabih Azhar told The Express Tribune. “His form will definitely benefit us in the upcoming matches as well.”
Meanwhile Azam, who was declared man of the match for his four-wicket haul, said that his performance will give him confidence for later on. “Taking four wickets in this format is not an easy task but it did happen and I hope I can make the same headway in the upcoming matches.”
Meanwhile, winning captain Tanvir said that his team gave an all-round performance and he was happy with the results.
“The reason for bowling first was due to the weather as it is difficult to bat in a rain-affected innings,” he said. “The bowlers, especially Azam and Amir, bowled really well to help us contain our opponents while the batsmen also helped in the win to show that we were the better team throughout.”
On the other hand, the skipper of the losing side, Yasir Hameed, lamented the loss. “We should have had at least 140 runs to defend; the spinners did their job but Shakeel Ahmed conceded too many runs which made the job harder for the rest of our bowlers.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 12th, 2015.
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