KARACHI: Skipper Abid Qasmi led from the front with a four-wicket haul as Qasmi CC moved into the semi-finals of the Omar Associates Ramazan T20 Cricket League here on Thursday.

Off-spinner Abid captured four wickets for 28 runs in four overs to play a key role in bowling out Metropolitan CC for 136 in 18.2 overs of their quarter-final fixture at the Abbasi Cricket Ground in North Karachi.

Iqbal Sheikh, a veteran of first-class cricket, excelled with an all-round performance. After top-scoring with an undefeated 44, Iqbal took three for 24 with his off-spinners. Fazal Subhan, better known as opening batsman, claimed 3-26 with his occasional medium-pacers.

Shaharyar Khan (38 off 34 balls, two fours and one six) and Abrar Waris (21 off 16) were the main run-getters for Metropolitan CC.

Earlier, Qasmi CC posted 172-6 after winning the toss. Left-hander Kamran Hussain (31 off 18 balls, five fours and one six) and Zakir Malik (41 off 26, four sixes) put on 41 for the first wicket.

Fazal then hit 23 off 19 deliveries with a brace of boundaries before Iqbal provided finishing touches to the total by slamming four sixes and two fours in his 23-ball knock.

Slow left-armer Usman Shah grabbed four wickets for 20 runs in four overs.

Summarised scores:

QASMI CC 172-6 in 20 overs (Iqbal Sheikh 44 not out, Zakir Malik 41, Kamran Hussain 31, Fazal Subhan 23; Usman Shah 4-20); METROPOLITAN CC 136 in 18.4 overs (Shaharyar Khan 38, Abrar Waris 21; Abid Qasmi 4-28, Iqbal Sheikh 3-24, Fazal Subhan 3-26).

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014