KARACHI: Discarded Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad smashed a quickfire 163 on Saturday while propelling Islamabad to a crushing nine-wicket defeat of Lahore Whites in the National One-day Cup for Regions.

The temperamental right-hander, who lost his place in the national team following Pakistan’s first-round exit at the ICC World Twenty20 in India last year, continued his magnificent form by striking 14 boundaries and three sixes during a 144-ball knock as Islamabad reached their target of 271 after Lahore Whites had made 270-6 in the televised match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

Shehzad first put on 75 with Shan Masood (37 off 58 balls, three boundaries) before outscoring the promoted Sarmad Bhatti (68 off 83 balls, four fours) during their unfinished partnership of 197 to help Islamabad move into second spot in the eight-team standings, a point behind Karachi Whites.

Usman Salahuddin, earlier, played a captain’s innings of 90 as he adorned 94-ball effort with eight fours and a brace of sixes after Islamabad opted to field first at the toss.

Karachi Whites were denied fourth straight success when their fixture with Peshawar was called without any play at the Arbab Niaz Stadium owing to bad light all day in Peshawar. Karachi Whites still stay top with seven points.

Lahore Blues celebrated their first win when they beat Rawalpindi by 14 runs under Duck-worth-Lewis (D/L) Method formula at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad.

After being put into bat, Lahore Blues recovered 93-4 in the 23rd over to collect 259 all out in 46.1 overs. Raza Ali Dar struck three sixes and two fours in making 63 from 55 deliveries.

Sohail Tanvir led from the front to claim five wickets for 30 runs in nine overs.

Rawalpindi had advanced to 196-7 in 37 overs when the match came to a grinding halt due to fading light. Slow left-armer Zafar Gohar snared three wickets for 25 runs.

Karachi Blues also pulled a D/L Method success when they defeated the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) by 18 runs at the Marghazar Cricket Ground in Islamabad.

Hussain Talat underlined his vast talent with his second hundred as the young left-hander slammed an unconquered 119 from 121 balls with the help of nine boundaries and four sixes to lift Fata from 98-5 to a creditable 268-6.

Hussain and all-rounder Asif Ali (57 off 52 balls, five fours and two sixes) shared a fine partnership of 125.

Karachi Blues lost an early wicket but did well to post 176-4 in 30 overs when the game was stopped by poor light. At that stage, they were 18 runs ahead of what Fata were that stage point of their innings.

Khurram Manzoor continued his excellent run with another superlative contribution as the tall right-hander compiled 77 from 80 balls while striking 13 boundaries.

Results on Saturday:

Fourth round:

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: Islamabad beat Lahore Whites by nine wickets.

LAHORE WHITES 270-6 in 50 overs (Usman Salahuddin 90 not out, Imam-ul-Haq 49, Gohar Hafeez 36, Umaid Asif 31, Anas Mahmood 26; Arsal Shaikh 2-53); ISLAMABAD 272-1 in 47.3 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 163 not out, Sarmad Bhatti 68 not out, Shan Masood 37).

At Marghazar Cricket Ground, Islamabad: Karachi Blues beat Fata by 18 runs (D/L Method).

FATA 268-6 in 47 overs (Hussain Talat 119 not out, Asif Ali 57; Mohammad Asghar 2-35); KARACHI BLUES 176-4 in 30 overs (Khurram Manzoor 77, Fawad Alam 31 not out, Rameez Aziz 20 not out).

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: Lahore Blues beat Rawalpindi by 14 runs (D/L Method).

LAHORE BLUES 259 in 46.1 overs (Raza Ali Dar 63, Agha Salman 43, Saad Nasim 37, Salman Butt 33, Kamran Akmal 32; Sohail Tanvir 5-30, Shadab Khan 2-76); RAWALPINDI 196-7 in 37 overs (Sohaib Maqsood 41, Sarmad Hameed 39, Awais Zia 34, Naved Malik 26, Umair Masood 22; Zafar Gohar 3-25, Agha Salman 2-28).

At Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar: PESHAWAR vs KARACHI WHITES — match abandoned due to bad light.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2017