KARACHI: Rawalpindi Rams secured a ‘Super Over’s win after a last-ball six from Sohail Khan sealed an unlikely tie for Karachi Zebras in their alBaraka Bank presents Haier T20 Cup Group ‘B’ fixture at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

What was seemingly a clear-cut outcome in favour of the Rams suddenly turned into an electrifying clash when Mohammad Waqas, playing his first match of this event, and Sohail were united when the fifth wicket fell with the score on 89 with Hammad Azam taking two in two; the stand between them flourished as the next 22 deliveries yielded 55 runs to leave the match intriguingly poised.

The 27-year-old Waqas – not to be confused with his left-handed exact namesake who had played for Pakistan Under-19 – struck a career-best 73 until he holed to out substitute Mohammad Nawaz in the deep. Waqas dealt mostly in boundaries and sent the white ball six times over the ropes. His 37-ball innings also included four fours.

After he was gone Sohail (45 off 27, four sixes and one six) picked up the pieces in a calculated innings. Facing the last ball of the game – with the Zebras requiring seven for a win – from seamer Nasir Malik, the discarded Test pacer casually flicked him for a six to level to force a one-over eliminator which the Rams won comfortably.

Earlier in the evening, Yasim Murtaza, sent up the order to provide impetus, duly justified the faith shown in him by the Rams’ think-tank, by reaching a maiden T20 half-century. He blasted five sixes – including two in consecutive deliveries in Shahzaib Ahmed Khan’s final over – and four boundaries while scoring at an astronomical strike rate of 188.23 until he was bowled by seamer Rumman Raees Khan for a 34-ball 64.

Umar Amin, letting Yasim take most of the bowling during their rollicking partnership of 107 in 63 balls, completed his sixth 50 at this level. His 40-ball contribution was adorned with seven fours.

Awais Zia (39 off 23, six fours and one six) earlier set the pace as he and Zahid Mansoor (24) made up for Naved Malik’s second-ball dismissal by putting on 64 from 37 balls.

The Rams suffered a crippling blow when their paceman Akhtar Ayub picked a sickening injury when he landed on his shoulder just as he was about to bowl and hurt his knee in the process as well. He was stretchered off after some delay because there was no medical aid just outside the field.

Scoreboard

RAWALPINDI RAMS:

Naved Malik c Shahzaib b Tabish0

Awais Zia c Shaharyar b Rumman39

Zahid Mansoor c Waqas b Haris24

Umar Amin not out50

Yasim Murtaza b Rumman64

Sohail Tanvir not out5

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, W-3, NB-4)13

TOTAL (for four wkts, 20 overs)195

FALL OF WKTS: 1-0, 2-64, 3-65, 4-172.

DID NOT BAT: Hammad Azam, Jamal Anwar, Samiullah, Nasir Malik, Akhtar Ayub.

BOWLING: Tabish Khan 4-0-40-1 (1nb, 1w); Sohail Khan 4-0-31-0 (1nb, 2w); Rumman Raees Khan 4-0-31-2; Haris Ayaz 3-0-28-1; Shahzaib Ahmed Khan 4-0-47-0; Tariq Haroon 1-0-12-0.

KARACHI ZEBRAS:

Khurram Manzoor b Umar29

Khalid Latif c Zahid b Akhtar2

Mohammad Waqas c sub (Nawaz) b Hammad73

Shaharyar Ghani c Zahid b Hammad8

Tariq Haroon c and b Hammad0

Mirza Adnan Baig c sub (Nawaz) b Umar6

Sohail Khan not out45

Haris Ayaz c Samiullah b Sohail4

Rumman Raees Khan not out12

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-6, NB-8)16

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs195

FALL OF WKTS: 1-27, 2-63, 3-82, 4-82, 5-89, 6-144, 7-158

DID NOT BAT: Tabish Khan, Shahzaib Ahmed Khan

BOWLING: Sohail Tanvir 4-0-24-1 (2w); Nasir Malik 4-0-58-0 (4nb, 3w); Akhtar Ayub 2-0-14-1 (1w); Samiullah 3-0-37-0; Umar Amin 3-0-28-2; Hammad Azam 3-0-22-3; Yasim Murtaza 1-0-10-0.

RESULT: Match tied – Rawalpindi Rams win one-over eliminator

UMPIRES: Qaiser Waheed and Sajid Afridi.

TV UMPIRE: Tahir Hussain.

MATCH REFEREE: Ishtiaq Ahmed.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Yasim Murtaza.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd , 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.