Adil, Imran Jr guide Panthers to second successive win

Rams defeated by seven wickets in their third match of Super8 T20 Cup.

KARACHI: Adil Amin’s half-century and Imran Khan Junior’s three-wicket haul guided Peshawar Panthers to a seven-wicket win over Rawalpindi Rams in their third fixture of the Super8 T20 Cup at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Friday.

Panthers’ second successful chase has placed them in line to qualify for the next stage if Sialkot Stallions lose to Abbottabad Falcons or win with a comparatively lower run-rate. Panthers and Rams both have four points each, but Rams are leading courtesy of a better run-rate.

Chasing 146, Panthers lost the current top scorer of the tournament Rafatullah Mohmand early in the fourth over on 13 runs but reached the target with four deliveries and seven wickets to spare as Adil smashed five fours to add 53 runs off 44 balls on the scoreboard, while Ahmed ended his innings at 32 off 23.

Israrullah struck 26 off 19 with three fours and one six, while Muhammad Rizwan made 14 off 12. Muhammad Aamir, Muhammad Asghar and Hammad Azam claimed a wicket each.

Asked to bat first, Rams were restricted on 145-6 as Imran registered figures of 3-13 to become the top wicket-taker in the tournament with a tally of six, whereas Imran Khan senior claimed 2-19 and Iftikhar Ahmed ended his bowling figures at 1-13.

Naved Malik smashed seven fours and two sixes in his 40-ball 57 to build a 50-run partnership with Khurram Shahzad (16 off 16) and another one of 56 runs with Zahid Masoor, who scored 34 off 31. Even though Hammad Azam added another 23 off 20 balls, Rams were unable to defend their score.

Both Imran and Adil were declared players of the match for their performances.

“It’s quite unbelievable taking wickets in the presence of such experienced players but I’m happy with my performance and I hope I will improve further in the next stage,” Imran told The Express Tribune.

Adil summed up his performance saying, “After losing Mohmand we had to make sure we stayed on the crease and were told by the coach to stay calm and not take any pressure which made it easy for me,” he said.

Meanwhile, winning captain Zohaib Khan said his team has shown more promise in the last two matches which has increased its chances for progressing to the next stage. “Besides the team, credit goes to our coach who has created such a comfortable environment in the dressing room which has helped our game a lot,” he said.

Skipper of the losing side, Sohail Tanvir, lamented the defeat. “My team did not play up to the mark as compared to performances in the previous matches,” he said. “We should have won this match but our bowlers, including myself, did not do well today and now we’re just hoping to qualify for the next stage.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th,  2015.

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