KARACHI: Rising star Sahibzada Farhan lit up the Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup action here on Friday evening with a belligerent innings as State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) annihilated Rehman Foundation by 186 runs.

Farhan enhanced his credentials a batting prodigy with another sterling display, a forte which propelled the young right-hander into limelight during the Pakistan Super League when turned out for eventual champions Islamabad United.

Until he holed out to the man patrolling the boundary, Farhan had plundered a hurricane 90 while sharing a rollicking opening partnership of 167 with Pakistan discard Mukhtar Ahmed, who contributed 69.

Batting first paid off rich dividends for SBP as they amassed 238-5 in the stipulated 20 overs with Farhan smashing eight fours and six sixes during his 49-ball knock. Mukhtar didn’t lag behind as he slammed 69 from 37 deliveries with the aid of seven fours and a brace of sixes.

Israrullah also made his presence felt with an 18-ball 29 that included three fours and one six. Kamran Akmal struck two sixes and as many fours in making 25 from only 10 deliveries.

Slow left-armer Rafay Safdar claimed two wickets for 28 runs but his team-mates all suffered at the hands of Farhan and Mukhtar.

Rehman Foundation, in reply, were sent packing inside 18 overs for 79 with Sohail Afzal scoring 21 off 26 balls before Rafay used the long handle effectively to blast three sixes in an 18-ball 25.

Experienced discarded Pakistan slow left-armer Zulfiqar Babar, off-spinner Daniyal Rajput both captured two wickets apiece after left-arm speedster Taj had bowled a couple of maiden overs in which he picked up two wickets.

Farhan was declared the deserved recipient of the Rs5,000 man-of-the-match prize.

Summarised scores:

SBP 238-5 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 90 , Mukhtar Ahmed 69, Israrullah 29, Kamran Akmal 25; Rafay Safdar 2-28); REHMAN FOUNDATION 79 in 17.4 overs (Sohail Afzal 21, Hasan Sardar 10; Taj Wali 2-0, Daniyal Rajput 2-11, Zulfiqar Babar 2-27).

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2018