After Lahore Lions’ exit, another tournament favourite Karachi Dolphins too could not make into the semi-finals. Peshawar Panther, led by Umar Gul, and Rawalpindi Rams progressed with inspiring performances.
Naved Yasin showed he can bowl as well as he can bat by getting four crucial wickets for just 17 runs. In a disappointing batting performance by Afghan side, which had fought admirably in the previous two matches, only Najib Taraki and Captain Mohammad Nabi batted well for 34 each.
Multan captain Shabbir Ahmed also bowled well taking 3 for 27. Zain Abbas played well but saw wickets fall regularly at the other end when Tigers replied. Some good bowling by Cheetahs reduced Tigers to 90 for 6 in the 15th over, but unbeaten 45-run partnership between Kamran Hussain and Shabbir took them home with four balls to spare.
Nabi again starred with 2 wickets, but his team departed home empty hand, a bit disappointing seeing their potential.
Wolves stuttered, recuperated and then fell agonizingly short of the Rams’ competitive score of 165 in the day’s second match. It was a do or die match for both the teams, and Rawalpindi proved to be a better all-round team hence they progressed to the semi-final stage.
Batting first, Rams were going quick but lost too many wickets to be 46 for 4. Umar Amin (53 off 37 with 7 fours) and wicket-keeper Jamal Anwar (41 off 34 with 5 overs) batted beautifully, first resurrecting the innings and then unleashing their strokes in a high-class 97-run stand.
Saeed Ajmal again proved his worth by taking 3 for 32 as Rams ended on 165 for 8, which looked distant at one time.
In reply Wolves were reduced to 34 for 4 by Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Rameez. It soon became 39 for 5, and from this desperate position captain Misbah and Imran Khalid brought their team into the contention once again by some resolute batting.
After Misbah departed for 43, Imran Khalid was run out as Rams closed in again. With 36 runs required of the last nine balls, Mohammad Talha tried his best to do a miracle by slamming 22 off just 7 balls but Wolves fell short by 7 runs, and crashed out.
In the last match of the day, and to utter disappointment of the home crowd, second Karachi team, too, crashed out of the tournament by playing poorly against Peshawar Panthers who were by far an inferior side.
Batting first, Panthers posted a tough total of 177 for 7. Rafatullah Mohmand, Fayyaz and Zohaib Khan all batted aggressively scoring 42, 39 and 43 runs respectively. Rumman Raees, Afridi and Faraz Ahmed took two wickets each.
In reply Karachi batted without a plan and lost wickets upfront to Nauman Habib as they tried to slog out. When Afridi went for 19, many in the crowd started departing, but a late onslaught from wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed rekindled the hopes of the fans for a, brief moment though. He made 37 of 20 balls, as Karachi ended on 148 for 9.
Nauman took 3 wickets, but Zohaib was named the man of the match for his all-round show (43 runs and 2 wickets).
On Saturday, Rawalpindi ill be up against Peshawar and Lahore Eagles will take on Sialkot in the semi-finals.
Venue: National stadium, Karachi September 30, 2011
Scorecard credit: CricketArchives.com
Group B: Afghan Cheetahs knocked out by Multan Tigers
Multan captain Shabbir Ahmed also bowled well taking 3 for 27. Zain Abbas played well but saw wickets fall regularly at the other end when Tigers replied. Some good bowling by Cheetahs reduced Tigers to 90 for 6 in the 15th over, but unbeaten 45-run partnership between Kamran Hussain and Shabbir took them home with four balls to spare.
Nabi again starred with 2 wickets, but his team departed home empty hand, a bit disappointing seeing their potential.
Group B: Faisalabad Wolves eliminated by Rawalpindi Rams in a nail-biter
Batting first, Rams were going quick but lost too many wickets to be 46 for 4. Umar Amin (53 off 37 with 7 fours) and wicket-keeper Jamal Anwar (41 off 34 with 5 overs) batted beautifully, first resurrecting the innings and then unleashing their strokes in a high-class 97-run stand.
Saeed Ajmal again proved his worth by taking 3 for 32 as Rams ended on 165 for 8, which looked distant at one time.
In reply Wolves were reduced to 34 for 4 by Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Rameez. It soon became 39 for 5, and from this desperate position captain Misbah and Imran Khalid brought their team into the contention once again by some resolute batting.
After Misbah departed for 43, Imran Khalid was run out as Rams closed in again. With 36 runs required of the last nine balls, Mohammad Talha tried his best to do a miracle by slamming 22 off just 7 balls but Wolves fell short by 7 runs, and crashed out.
Group D: Peshawar Panthers qualify upsetting Karachi Dolphins
Batting first, Panthers posted a tough total of 177 for 7. Rafatullah Mohmand, Fayyaz and Zohaib Khan all batted aggressively scoring 42, 39 and 43 runs respectively. Rumman Raees, Afridi and Faraz Ahmed took two wickets each.
In reply Karachi batted without a plan and lost wickets upfront to Nauman Habib as they tried to slog out. When Afridi went for 19, many in the crowd started departing, but a late onslaught from wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed rekindled the hopes of the fans for a, brief moment though. He made 37 of 20 balls, as Karachi ended on 148 for 9.
Nauman took 3 wickets, but Zohaib was named the man of the match for his all-round show (43 runs and 2 wickets).
On Saturday, Rawalpindi ill be up against Peshawar and Lahore Eagles will take on Sialkot in the semi-finals.
Venue: National stadium, Karachi September 30, 2011
Scorecard credit: CricketArchives.com
Published in SportPulse.net on 1/10/11
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