MULTAN: Asad Shafiq pulled an innings of class against title favourites Peshawar Region to blastKarachi Whites into the final of the Cool and Cool Presents Jazz National T20 Cup here at the Multan Stadium, on Thursday.
Asked to bat first, Peshawar amassed a big total of 178 runs for seven wickets in the first semi-final of the day. In reply, Asad led the chase with an unbeaten 92 runs innings to get 179 runs for two wickets for Karachi Whites to register an eight wickets win with 10 balls to spare.
Having lost one of their openers Rameez Raja at 13, Karachi Whites other opener Zain Abbas and Asadtook the score to 154 before the former lost his patience at his personal 59 runs.
He stayed at the crease to face 45 balls and also timed nine boundaries but the innings played by Asadtook the initiative away from Peshawar which kept the favorite’s tag throughout the entire tournament. But in the semi-final despite having a good total on board, their bowlers could not stop Asad from taking away the match. Asad hammered 92 runs in 55 balls. During his stay at the crease he his 40 runs off fours and also hit three sixes.
After Zain was out Akbar-ur-Rehman (nine not out) and Asad completed the score to see their team play in the final. As zain was run out, the wickets of Rameez was taken by Waqas Maqsood.
Earlier, Peshawar despite having a jolty start got its score going through Iftikhar Ahmed who remained not out at 78 studded with seven fours and three sixes as he faced 53 balls. Israrullah provided him with little support of 20 runs and Fakhar Zaman 23. Anwar Ali down the order contributed 24 runs. Peshawar maintained 8-plus run average during the whole of their innings but their bowlers failed to defend that total.
All the Karachi Whites bowlers accept for Akbar, had wickets with Faraz Ahmed taking two while Tabish Khan, Sohail Khan, Azam Hussain and Tariq Haroon sharing one each.
