KARACHI: Karachi underlined their status as the strongest outfit in the inaugural T20 cricket discipline of the 17th Sindh Games here on Thursday when they chalked up two facile victories to qualify for the semi-finals.

Playing in the morning Group ‘A’ fixture at the TMC Ground, Karachi first whipped Mirpur Khas by a huge margin of 180 runs with young all-rounder Danish Aziz (72, eight fours and four sixes), Usman Javed (70, 11 fours and one six) and Ahmer Bin Nasir (41, three sixes and three fours) propelling the favourites to 239-8 in the stipulated 20 overs.

Mirpur Khas, in reply, were shot out for 59 in 11.5 overs with upcoming fast bowler Mohammad Ali Khan claiming five wickets for 11 runs and Abdul Wahid 3-13.

Later in the afternoon, Karachi thrashed Shaheed Benazirabad by eight wickets with Danish (71, 10 fours and four sixes) and Usman (unbeaten 55, seven fours and three sixes) making short work of a 153-run chase in just 11 overs.

In the opening day’s Group B’ action at the RLCA Gulberg Ground, Larkana stunned Hyderabad by a handsome eight-wicket margin with Shamsuddin completing a fine all-round performance.

After grabbing three wickets for 23 runs, Shamsuddin banged 73 that included six fours and five sixes as Larkana reached their target of 125 in 16.5 overs.

However, Hyderabad later recovered their poise as they annihilated Sukkur by 10 wickets.

Mohammad Aqeel hit 59 (five fours and three sixes) to help Sukkur post 172-4 before opener Naimatullah bludgeoned 108 off only 58 deliveries with the aid of nine boundaries and six sixes as Hyderabad raced to 173-0 in 17.1 overs. Uzair Jafri scored 52 (four fours and one six).

Two more league-round matches are scheduled for Friday while the semi-finals will be played on Saturday and the gold medal match on Sunday.

Thursday’s results:

At TMC Ground: Karachi beat Mirpur Khas by 180 runs.

KARACHI 239-8 in 20 overs (Danish Aziz 72, Usman Javed 70, Ahmer Bin Nasir 41; Shaban Malik 3-35, Abid Nazeer 2-52); MIRPUR KHAS 59 in 11.5 overs (Shawal 23; Mohammad Ali Khan 5-11, Abdul Wajid 3-13).

At RLCA Gulberg Ground: Larkana beat Hyderabad by eight wickets.

HYDERABAD 124-9 in 20 overs (Gul Badin 23, Abid Ali 19, Rahimullah 19; Shamsuddin 3-23, Faraz Aziz 2-25); LARKANA 127-2 in 16.5 overs (Shamsuddin 73, Habibullah 34 not out).

At TMC Ground: Karachi beat Shaheed Benazirabad by eight wickets.

SHAHEED BENAZIRABAD 152-7 in 20 overs (Kashif Bhatti 40, Haris Khan 39, Shehzad Haider 24; Abdul Wajid 2-30, Danish Aziz 2-42); KARACHI 153-2 in 11 overs (Danish Aziz 71, Usman Javed 55 not out, Zakir Malik 22).

At RLCA Gulberg Ground: Hyderabad beat Sukkur by 10 wickets.

SUKKUR 172-4 in 20 overs (Mohammad Aqeel 59, Mohammad Imran 41 not out, Ayaz Ali 30 not out; Mohammad Nabeel 2-33); HYDERABAD 173-0 in 17.1 overs (Naimatullah 108 not out, Uzair Jafri 52 not out).

Friday’s fixtures: Mirpur Khas vs Shaheed Benazirabad (TMC Ground, 9:00am); Larkana vs Sukkur (TMC Ground, 1:00pm).

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2018