KARACHI: In a stunning turnaround, Omar Colts upset odds to shock fancied Omar CC by 23 runs to qualify for semi-finals of the Omar Associates 31st Karachi Gymkhana Ramazan Cricket Festival here on Tuesday.

After opting to bat first in the opening quarter-final fixture at the Karachi Gymkhana Ground, Omar Colts rode on a brilliant undefeated innings of 71 from Shahrukh Ali to collect 144-7 in the stipulated 20 overs.

Shahrukh batted splendidly to strike eight boundaries and a brace of sixes during man-o-the-match 42-ball knock. Danish Aziz scored an 18-ball 26 with the aid of one six and one four.

Slow left-armer Mohammad Irfan claimed two wickets for 21 runs in three overs.

Omar CC, in reply, never recovered from 67-6 in the 11th over and eventually all out for 121 in 19 overs. Babar Hussain Aga was the top-scorer with a 27-ball 19, while captain Anwar Ali and Shaharyar Ghani made 17 apiece.

The left-arm spin duo of Usman Khalid and Bilal Javed shared seven wickets between them. Usman returned outstanding figures of four wickets for only nine runs in three overs, while Bilal took 3-15 from his four overs.

Shahrukh was later adjudged man-of-the-match.

In Wednesday’s second quarter-final, Medicam take on Heroes CC of Quetta, weather permitting.

Summarised scores:

OMAR COLTS 144-7 in 20 overs (Shahrukh Ali 71 not out, Danish Aziz 26; Mohammad Irfan 2-21); OMAR CC 121 in 19 overs (Babar Hussain Agha 19, Shaharyar Ghani 17, Anwar Ali 17; Usman Khalid 4-9, Bilal Javed 3-15).

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2016