RAWALPINDI – September 14, 2015: Karachi Blues and Peshawar contrary to the expectations clinched their respective semi-final matches of the Cool & Cool Present Haier Mobile T20 Cup 2015 played at Rawalpindi Stadium on Monday.
Karachi Blues earned an eight runs win over Multan while Peshawar ended Sialkot’s supremacy in the shortest version of the game when they got a five wickets victory.
Though stretched to full length by Multan, Karachi Blues prevailed over in the first semi-final. After having scored 189 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs, Karachi limited Multan to 181 for nine in the given overs.
Fawad Alam and Asad Shafiq provided some authority to Karachi’s total with their half centuries when their openers failed to withstand Multan opening attack bowler Majid Ali’s onslaught. Majid reduced Karachi to three for 22 in three overs. But Asad and Sarfraz showed patience with aggression to post 57 runs for the fourth wicket. Sarfraz when at 38 was run out but not before giving confidence to his team-mates.
Asad was then joined by Fawad and both the batsmen added 75 runs for the fifth wicket. Asad in his 53 runs that came off 34 balls hit seven boundaries including a six. On the other hand, Fawad remained not out at 60 in 42 balls. In the process he hit five fours and a six but after Asad left him at the crease, no other batsman supported him. Even Shahid Afridi could only play six balls to get four runs. Fawad however played till the end to have a fighting score on the board. As Majid halted the Karachi batting progress in the upper order, Rahat Ali damaged the lower order with three wickets. His effort also included the prized wicket of Afridi. Aamer yamin had one wicket.
In reply, Multan fought well but did not have big partnerships in the presence of Karachi’s attack led by Rumman Raees and Abdul Ameer. They both shared two and three wicket respectively.
Imran Farhat and Kamran Akmal started the Multan’s chase but the former was found off colour while Kamran could make 22. Zain Abbas and Shoaib Maqsood played a savior act. They posted 45 runs for the third wicket but Zain was bowled by Ameer which halted the run rate. He made 33 in 23 balls. Shoaib kept the score going but not for much long. He was at 38 when Afridi struck as Sarfraz did the rest behind the wickets. His 38 was studded with four mighty sixes in 19 balls.
Later in the lower order, Yamin became heavy on all Karachi bowlers with his unbeaten 45. He faced 20 balls to also hit seven boundaries and two sixes. He got little support from Zulfiqar Babar 19 but they fell short of eight runs in the end. Anwar Ali and Fawad Khan were the other bowlers from Karachi attack who took one wicket each.
In the second semi-final of the day, Peshawar broke Sialkot’s hegemony in the T20 format of the game by getting five wickets win.
Sialkot put into to bat posted 169 runs for seven all due to the half century brought by Adeel Malik. But Peshawar completed the score for the loss of five wickets with eight balls to spare.
Peshawar had its plan of the chase that worked well with their openers particularly Rafatullah Mohmand playing the lead role. As Peshawar lost its first wickets at seven runs, Rafat held the charge making match winning 78 runs and along the way produced several small partnerships before falling to Amad Butt. He took 51 balls to also hit six fours and five sixes. Iftikhar Ahmed scored 16 runs in Peshawar’s fight. And after Rafat was back in the pavilion, Mohammad Rizwan took responsibility of the win. He remained not out at 47 and made the win a reality. He took 32 balls and also hit four fours and a six to overhaul the score. Zohaib Khan was the other not out batsman who made seven. Amad Butt took two wickets while Hasan Ali, Bilal, and Bilawal shared one wicket each.
As Sialkot failed to get dream start, Mukhtar Ahmed and Bilal Asif built the score to two for 44 after having lost one wicket at six. When Bilal was out for 20 and was followed by Mukhtar. Adeel came in to hold the fort for Sialkot and after Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail could not stay at the crease to support Adeel, he found a useful partner in Shakeel Ansar. They took the score from five for 92 to six for 154. Adeel, however remained at the crease till the end and added another 15 runs along with Bilawal Bhatti to the score. In the entire scenario, Mukhar made 34, Bilal 20, Ansar 20 while, Adeel hit 70 runs in 46 balls. He decorated his innings with seven fours and three sixes.
Imran Khan junior took two wickets while Imran senior, Adil Amin and Zohaib Khan shared one wicket each.
Now Karachi Blues will take on Peshawar in the final at the Rawalpindi Stadium on Tuesday.
Scorecards:
