KARACHI: A sparkling half-century by Hasan Sardar saw Qasmi Gymkhana oust defending champions Dollar East from the 31st Aga Khan Gymkhana Ramazan Cup T20 Cricket Tournament with a five-wicket quarter-final victory here on Thursday.

Chasing a competitive target of 209 at the Aga Khan Gymkhana Ground, Qasmi Gymkhana stormed into the semi-finals with five balls to spare as man-of-the-match Hasan excelled under pressure to strike six sixes and a four in scoring 55 from 52 deliveries.

Bilal Irshad also played a good hand with 39 off 30 balls that included three sixes and two fours; Shafqatullah bludgeoned 25 off just 13 balls with two fours and two sixes and Kamran Hussain struck an undefeated 24 with two sixes as Qasmi Gymkhana reached 212 5 in 19.1 overs. Earlier, Dollar East collected 208-6 with Jahandad Khan, Nabeel Khalid and Khurram Manzoor their chief run-getters.

Jahandad banged 63 off only 33 deliveries with six sixes and three fours, Nabeel plundered 56 after facing just 27 ballswith no less than seven sixes and one four. Discarded Pakistan right-hander Khurram Manzoor scored 49 off 28 balls with seven fours and one six while sharing a first-wicket partnership of 105 with Nabeel.

Summarised scores:

DOLLAR EAST 208-6 in 20 overs (Jahandad Khan 63,Nabeel Khalid 56,Khurram Manzoor 49; Moazzam Malik 2-36, Kamran Hussain 2-39); QASMI GYMKHANA 212-5 in 19.1 overs (Hasan Sardar 55, Bilal Irshad 39, Shafqatullah 25, Kamran Hussain 24 not out; Kashif Bhatti 2-56).

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2018