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
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