AFTERNOON SESSION: NESMA AIR AND KKR STORM INTO THE GRAND FINALE
By. Dr. SAYED ZIAUDDIN
In the Premier Prime Nesma Airlines elected to bat first against Abudawood Trading amassed a huge 254 for 6 in the allotted 20 overs. KHAWAR Zafar emerged the top scorer with 80 in 76 balls with 14 fours and a six as he added 155 runs in 71 balls for the opening stand with Naeem Malik who hammered 69 in 36 balls with 11 hits to the ropes to give a scintillating start and it was looking as if Nesma would touch the 300 mark but then it was not to be as 3 wkts in quick succession slowed down their progress to be reduced to 170 for 3 in the 14th over. Akbar coming at #4 smashed 5 sixes and 5 fours to compile 68 in just 26 balls to boost the tally to 254 which was at one stage looking like a far target. Adalat was the most successful bowler with 3 for 48, Israr 2 for 43 and Ijaz Butt 1. Rana Abrar made 11 and Shahzad Bhatti 12.
Abu Dawood Trading in response took the challenge but then they lost wkts at regular intervals if not frequent as after 2 early jolts to be reduced to 30 for 2 with Ali Nawaz (18) and One down Mohsen Shahbaz (0) departing Ghazanfar then took the reign to smash 76 in 39 balls with 4 sixes and 8 fours to stitch 73 in 44 balls for the 3rd wkt with Amir Gujjar who made 30 in 16 balls with 4 fours. Later Ijaz Butt hit 24 with 3 sixes and a four to add 43 for the 5th wkt with Amir Waqas who made 21. At the end of the 17th over 200 for 5 requiring 55 runs in 18 balls was a bit a difficult task and Abudawood could reach up to 235 for 8 at the end with Usman making unbeaten 19 to lose the encounter by 19 runs.
However, although Abudawood lost the match then the where they were chasing was really a treat to watch. The match yielded 490 runs in 20 overs is itself a testimony to the fact that chasing against such a mammoth target of 250+ is itself an achievement. Amir Gujjar should have stayed a little longer to support Ghazanfar then the chase would have been a different story. Mohammed Rashid grabbed 4 for 59, Sohail 2-17 and Rana Abrar 1.
Man of the match went to Khawar Zafar for his 80 runs.
In the Afternoon Qualifier, 1 KKR was asked to bat first by Al Kabbani Cricket Group to tally 178 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs. Shafeer stroked 35 in 18 balls with 4 fours and a six as he added 67 in 46 balls for the 3rd wkt with Mushtaq who made 29 in 32 balls with 2 fours and a six after they were reduced to 22 for 2 with Jaleel (11) and Yasar (4) departing cheaply. Later Shabeer top-scored with an unbeaten 47 in 25 balls with 2 sixes and 6 fours as Haris remained unbeaten on 22 with 2 fours. Abdullah Bhatti grabbed 3 for 23 whereas Hassan Khan and Rashid had a wkt each.
Al Kabbani Cricket Group in response started the chase but lost both the openers quite early at 34 for 2 with Kazim Shah (1) and Imran Qaiser (30 with 7 fours). Later Atif M hit 35 in 27 balls with six and 3 fours as he added 52 runs in 34 balls for the 3rd wkt with Faisal Qayyum who made 31 in 20 balls with 5 hits to the fence. Once this pair was broken the middle order collapsed like nine pins from 86 for 2 to 103 for 4 to 115 for 7 to 151 for 9 in stipulated 20 overs to lose by 27 runs. Asad Ali made 15 and Jamil 16 not out. Nujum scalped 3 for 23, Shabbir 2-17, Yasser 2-33 and Haris one.
Shabeer was given the MOM for his 47 in 25 balls and 2 wkts for 17.
ELIMINATOR: In the Premier prime Eliminator Timex Lothers decided to bat first against Zultec after winning the toss to get to 172 for 5 in the allotted 20 overs on Ground # 7. Others’ start was quite encouraging with both the openers batting with confidence and concentration to stitch along 108 in 66 balls for the opening stand as Waqas made 71 in 50 balls with 7 hits to the ropes whereas Ibrar 58 in 35 balls with 3 sixes and 4 fours. Waqas again added 44 runs for the rd wkt with Samiullah to get to 154 but then the run rate was not up to the mark and eventually could make 172 in 120 balls. Iftikhar scored 18. Usman scalped 2-29 as Abu Huraira and Waqar had pieces each.
Zultec in chase batted magnificently as Waqar Ul Hasan in scintillating form blasted 86 in 49 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes stitched 104 in 63 balls for the first wkt with Umair Khan who stroked 23 in 24 balls. Later Usman Gulab contributed 29 in 10 balls with 2 sixes and 3 fours, while Javed Iqbal remained unbeaten on 19 off 14 balls with 2 fours to get to the winning target of 173 for 3 in 107 balls to win and qualify for the Qualifier 2 against Abu Dawood Trading on Next Friday. Ibrar claimed 2-35 and Sami one.
Waqar ul Hasan of Zultec bagged the MOM for his 86 runs and a wkt.
In the Afternoon Blue Eliminator match, Karachi Warriors opted to bat first against Marine Services on ground # 4. Karachi Warriors piled up 181 for 8 in the allotted 20 overs. Everybody from their ranks contributed to the team tally as Riyasat hit 30 in 25 balls with 3 hits to the ropes added 63 in 38 balls for the 2nd wkt with one down Imran Sarwar who made 41 in 22 balls with 2 sixes and 4 fours after Adnan Sialkoti stroked 26 in 8 balls with six and 4 fours. After a reasonably excellent start, Karachi Warriors lost 4 wkts for the addition of 26 runs from 106 for 2 to 132 for 6. Despite this, they could get to 181 as Junaid remained unbeaten on 24 off 14 balls with 2 fours and Shoaib and Adnan 10 each. Earlier Ali Mudassar and Nassir made 11 each. 2 wkts each went to Nasser 2-42, Akram 2-37, Faruq Usmani 2-25 and Tariq one.
Marine Services in reply was bowled out for 93 to lose the match by 88 runs. Mohammed Akram made the top score of 33 in 23 balls with 3 fours and a six as none other could support the Marine innings with only 2 batters crossing the double-digit Noor A Zahoor (14) and Rameez Siddiqui (11). Adnan grabbed 4 wkts for 24 runs and Imran Sarwar 2-19. A wkt each was taken by Shaoib, Riyasat, Adnan Sialkoti and Shahnawaz. Now Karachi warriors will play the Qualifier 2 against Al Kabbani CG next Friday.
Imran Sarwar of Karachi Warriors has adjudged the MOM for his 41 runs and 2 wkts.
