RAWALPINDI: Karachi Whites brought down high-flying Lahore Whites with a seven wickets triumph in the Cool & Cool Present Jazz National T20 Cup 2016 match played here at Pindi Stadium on Wednesday.
With that the unbeaten run of Lahore Whites was also come to an end with thanks to gutsy innings from Akbar-ur-Rehman and a match winning partnership between him and Tariq Haroon. As Lahore Whites went down to post 178 runs for four wickets, Karachi Whites achieved 179 runs losing three wickets with two overs (12 balls) to spare.
It was not the poor performance of Lahore Whites rather it was Karachi Whites who lifted their game to stun star-studded Lahore. Karachi began its chase with caution with their openers Ahsan Ali and Zain Absas remained together till the fourth over getting 30 runs. After hitting three fours in 12 balls to make 14, Ahsan lost his cool and his wicket but Zain proportionally maintained his temper to get to 39 individual score. He also saw Asad Shafiq falling at the other end 10 by the sixth over. But from then on, Zain and Akbar not only swelled the run-rate but also set the tune for win with a 60 runs partnership. After Zain left the crease hitting six fours while facing 32 balls, Akbar and Tariq continued to cease the initiative by developing a winning partnership. Akbar remained not out at 65 came off 38 balls. His innings was studded with eight fours and two sixes while Tariq’s 42 came in 18 balls as he hit three fours and the same number of sixes.
The three wickets of Karachi that fell on the day were shared by Ehsan Adil, Zia0ul-Haq, and Amad Butt.
Earlier, Salman Butt and Umer Akmal set up a big total from Lahore side for Karachi to chase. Salman lost his opening partner Kamran Akmal (duck and bowled by Sohail Khan) in the third over when the score reached 11. But both the Butts, Salman and Imran took the total to 52 before the latter was trapped LBW by Faraz Khan for 11.
Salman and Umer then developed 121 runs innings for the fourth wicket which at last went in vain with Karachi win. Salman made 57-ball 73, hitting nine boundaries and three sixes while Umer got 81 in 44 balls studded with 12 boundaries, half of them were sixes. Sohail Khan had two wickets while Tariq Haroon and Faraz Ahmed shared one wicket each.
