KARACHI: Lahore Blues and Karachi Whites both recorded identical victories by 19 runs on Monday to move in sight of the semi-finals in the Brighto Paints presents Cool & Cool National T20 Cup at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi.

In the day’s afternoon fixture, Karachi Whites were brilliant in defending a below-par total of 148 by strangulating Islamabad batsmen who mustered only 129 in their stipulated overs for the loss of five wickets.

Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed was at his tactical best in the field while his troops responded superbly to the task after Asad Shafiq had produced another workmanlike knock at the top of the order once Islamabad captain Zohaib Ahmed opted to bowl first.

Remarkably, Asad’s 45 was the highest individual score of the game as the diminutive Test batsman adorned his 27-ball effort with five boundaries and two consecutive sixes in the second over of the day as a wayward Umar Gul delivered successive no-balls — which were contemptuously hit for a four and a six.

After his ‘maltreatment’ at Asad’s hands, Umar returned to concede 25 runs from his next three overs before finishing with 3-45, which were still a big contrast to his fellow Pakistan discard Mohammad Irfan’s excellent figures of 3-25.

After man-of-the-match Asad was removed by Adil Amin, it was left to Sarfraz to ensure his side posted a respectable score. The captain hit two fours and six in making 28 off 21 balls before being unluckily bowled by Umar as the ball rolled onto the stumps off Sarfraz’s pad.

Islamabad, needing to score at a gettable rate of 7.45, were never allowed to express themselves with bat as openers Shan Masood (25 off 22 balls, four boundaries) and Nauman Anwar (34 off 33, three fours and two sixes) plodded to mere 28-0 in the Powerplay overs.

Rumman Raees Khan was spot on with his immaculate control and his subtle change of pace hounded the batsmen as the Pakistan left-armer gave away only 18 runs, while dismissing his United Bank team-mate Saad Ali for a 20-ball 25.

Tabish Khan was a completely changed fast bowler from the one who was thrashed by Peshawar batsmen for 41 runs on Sunday evening. This time Tabish went for just 19 runs in four overs in which he bagged Adil’s wicket, while the experienced Zulfiqar Babar also made his presence felt with a tidy spell of 1-21.

Meanwhile, Lahore Blues’ hopes of improving their net run-rate were badly dented by a late Fata resurgence in the evening match which at one time headed for a clinical rout of Hammad Azam’s side.

Chasing 178, Fata were down and out for the count when the first four wickets fell in the space of 12 deliveries. Aizaz Cheema, the former Pakistan paceman now 39, rocked Fata’s chase by sending back Mukhtar Ahmed (2), Naved Malik (8) and Hammad (first ball duck) in six balls to leave in real strife at 11-4.

Rehan Afridi also got out cheaply but Fata then staged a tremendous fightback from 30-5 in the sixth over and then 63-6 in the 11th through an outstanding knock from all-rounder Sohail Akhtar. The 31-year-old right-hander — who had never crossed 30 in any of his 11 previous T20 innings — hammered an undefeated 74 from 56 balls with 40 of the runs coming via four sixes and as many fours.

Asif Afridi also played his part admirably in the gallant partnership of 85 in 54 balls with Sohail before the left-handed Asif (37 off 22 balls, three sixes and two fours) was run out in the final over that ended with Fata reaching 158-7.

Earlier, Hussain Talat dominated Lahore Blues’ innings with a career-best 68 off 46 balls. The 21-year-old left-hander’s unbeaten contribution included five fours and three sixes, while putting on 68 for the unbroken fifth wicket with Agha Salman (28 off 17, two sixes and two sixes).

Hussain and Aizaz were declared joint recipients of the man-of-the-match award.

At this point in time, Lahore Whites, Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues occupy the first three places in the eight-team standings with seven points apiece. But Karachi Whites have played six matches compared to both Lahore outfits, who both have still two games left in the league round.

Monday’s results:

Lahore Blues beat Fata by 19 runs.

LAHORE BLUES 177-4 in 20 overs (Hussain Talat 68 not out, Mohammad Hafeez 31, Ahmed Shehzad 29, Agha Salman 28 not out); FATA 158-7 in 20 overs (Shahid Akhtar 74 not out, Asif Afridi 37; Aizaz Cheema 3-24).

Karachi Whites beat Islamabad by 19 runs.

KARACHI WHITES 148 in 19 overs (Asad Shafiq 45, Sarfraz Ahmed 28; Mohammad Irfan 3-25, Umar Gul 3-45); ISLAMABAD 129-5 in 20 overs (Nauman Anwar 34, Saad Ali 25, Shan Masood 25, Adil Amin 21).

Tuesday’s fixtures: Lahore Whites vs Peshawar (12:00noon); Rawalpindi vs Faisalabad (4:00pm).

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2017