Lahore Eagles beat Karachi Zebras in a thriller in the Faysal Bank National T20 Cup here on Sunday at National Stadium, Karachi. In other matches Lahore Lions and Abbottabad Falcons won their matches convincingly on the opening day of the tournament that was shifted to Karachi from Lahore amid fears of dengue outbreak.
In the last match of the event on Sunday night, Lahore Eagles prevailed over Karachi Zebras by just two runs. Eagles, who won the toss and chose to bat first, scored 143 runs for six. Eagles openers Imran Farhat (27) and skipper Taufeeq Umar (34) gave a solid stand of 43 runs in 4.4 overs. They both smashed eight fours. Later on, Ali Azmat (36) and Junaid Zia (22) took the total to 143 runs in 20 overs.
Zebras’ Danish Kaneria took two wickets while Azam Hussain and Atif Maqbool shared one wicket each. In reply, Zebras’ start was shaky. They lost their openers in a quick succession. But Hasan Raza (49) and Faisal Iqbal (47) showed the responsibility in chasing the target. They played shorts all around the ground and added 95 runs. By then, it was all Zebras’ show and it seemed that the Zebras would reach the target with ease, but Eagles’ Saad Nasim came in their way as he grabbed two wickets in the same over which turned it anybody’s game.
In the last over, the Zebras needed 11 runs but Emmad Ali bowled in good areas and won the opening match for the Eagles by two runs. Earlier in the second match, Lahore Lions thrashed Hyderabad Hawks by 82 runs. Ahmed Shehzad (72), Kamran Akmal (62) and Umar Akmal (33) hit Hawks bowlers everywhere and set the mammoth total of 194-5. Hawks’ Nasir Awais took three wickets.
In reply, openers Azeem Ghumman (20) and Sharjeel (30) showed some class but after their exit, not a single batsman of the Hawks could offer any resistance to Lions and were all sent back to stand for 112 runs in 18.4 overs. In the opening match of the day, Abbottabad Falcons thrashed Quetta Bears by 72 runs. Abbottabad reached 190 for two with Yasir Hameed cracking 101 off just 65 balls. Adnan Raees added 51 balls. Quetta Bears could reach 118 for eight.
Bismillah Khan could score 27.
Summarised scores:
At National Stadium, Karachi
Abbottabad Falcons 190-2 in 20 overs (Yasir Hameed 101*, 65 balls, 14 x4s, 1 x6s,Adnan Raees 51*, 30 balls, 8 x4s) v Quetta Bears 118-8 in 20- overs (Bismillah Khan 27, 33 balls, 2 x4s, Abid Ali 42, 46 balls, 4 x4s, Mir Waris 29, Junaid Khan 3-24, Khalid Usman 2-10)
Result: Abbottabad Falcons won by 72 runs, Toss: Quetta Bears, Umpires: Nadeem Ghouri & Masood Khan, Referee: Mohammad Javed, TV Umpire: Ahmed Shahab, Scorer: Imran Ali
Lahore Lions 194-5 in 20 overs (Ahmed Shahzad 72, 50 balls, Kamran Akmal 62, 41 balls, 7 x4s, 1 x6s, Nasir Awais 3-43) v Hyderabad Hawks 112 in 18.4 overs (Azeem Ghuman 20, Sharjeel Khan 30, 23 balls, 3 x4s, 2 x6s, Faisal Athar 23, 28 balls, 2 x4s, Wahab Riaz 2-19, Raza Ali Dar 2-9)
Result: Lahore Lions won by 82 runs, Toss: Hyderabad Hawks, Umpires: Khalid Mahmood Sr. & Hakeem Shah, Referee: Nadeem Arshad, Scorer: Akbar Khan
Lahore Eagles 143/6 (20/20 ov)
Karachi Zebras 141/7 (20.0/20 ov)
Lahore Eagles won by 2 runs
Umpires: Kaukab Butt & Tahir Shah, Referee: Ishtiaq Ahmed, Scorer: Ahsan Raza.
