Opener Manzoor’s 81 off 88 balls helped the Dolphins chase down the 272-run target in the 49th over after he added 97 runs for the first wicket with Shahzaib Hasan (59). Asad Shafiq (51) then added 74 runs with Manzoor as the Dolphins gradually took the game away from their opponents. After Manzoor was dismissed by Imad Wasim, Asad ensured that there were no hiccups and completed the job. Shoaib Akhtar, who has been in top form with a six-for earlier in the tournament, failed to repeat his heroics and finished with a disappointing one for 57 in his 10 overs. Federal Areas had earlier set a competitive total.
Raheel Majeed (49) and Naved Malik (26) set the platform with almost a run-a-ball partnership before Naved fell to Lal Kumar. Raheel was run out one short of his half-century at the score of 90 while Umair Khan (18) made his way back at 120 in the 23rd over. Skipper Bazid Khan (19) was dismissed cheaply, failing to make an impression yet again. Asad then claimed his second wicket as he had Yasim Murtaza caught by Hasan Raza for three as Federal Areas were reduced to 154 for five in 33 overs.
While wickets fell at the other end, Umair Amin continued to make his mark. He added 45 with Naeem Anjum but two wickets fell for one run and halted the Leopards’ charge. But in the last 52 balls, Amin and Imad – not known for his batting skills – added 71 runs to take their team to a formidable target. Amin, who scored 85 off 78 balls, hit seven boundaries while Imad struck three as Tanvir Ahmed and Anwar Ali got a pounding.
Tanvir, who was the leading wicket-taker in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, went wicket-less in his eight expensive overs. Anwar did grab two but for 62 runs in his 10 overs. But it was Asad’s two important wickets in the middle overs that halted a high score from the Leopards after they were off to a good start.
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