KARACHI: Long discarded Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Khan struck a whirlwind half-century while skipper Rehan Sheikh excelled with the ball as Advance Telecom whipped Vital Five CC by 102 runs to reach the semi-finals of the second Peace Cup T20 Night Cricket Tournament here on Thursday.

Sohail, who has immensely improved his batting over the past year, dazzled a sizeable turnout at the Naya Nazimabad Lawai Cricket Stadium with six of the biggest sixes struck in the ongoing competition while helping himself to a 19-ball unbeaten 53 that also featured a brace of fours.

Opener Mukhtar Ahmed had been the early star to dominate for the winning side as he lashed five sixes and four boundaries in scoring a 37-ball 55 as Advance Telecom powered their way to 206-5.

Mohammad Yasin scored 37 off 20 balls (four sixes and two fours) in the first-wicket stand of 88 with Mukhtar.

After being severely being at the receiving end in the first half of the last quarter-final, Vital Five had no inclination to chase down such a big total as their innings subsided inside 15 overs for a measly 104 with off-spinner Rehan taking 4-21 and leg-spinner Osama Mir 3-11.

Former Test seamer and owner of Vital Five CC Jalaluddin, who was the chief guest, presented the man-of-the-match prize to Sohail Khan.

Summarised scores:

ADVANCE TELECOM 206-5 in 20 overs (Mukhtar Ahmed 55, Sohail Khan 53 not out, Mohammad Yasin 37); VITAL FIVE CC 104 in 14.3 overs (Faisal Mubashir 24, Hafiz Asad 22, Furqan Lohar 21; Rehan Sheikh 4-21, Osama Mir 3-11).

Saturday’s fixture: Advance Telecom vs Eaton CC (second semi-final).

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2014