KARACHI: Inspired by Sohail Akhtar’s all-round performance, former champions Dollar East put up a fine effort in the ongoing Naya Nazimabad Ramadan Cup T20 Cricket Tournament when they outgunned Pakistan Customs by 25 runs here on Saturday night.

Sohail first blasted four sixes in scoring 33 off just 18 balls to enable Dollar East collect 158-7 at the Lawai Cricket Stadium. Pakistan discard Khurram Manzoor struck 29 in 36 balls with two fours and Ramiz Aziz hoisted two sixes in an 18-ball knock of 26.

Faheem Ahmed captured three wickets for 27 runs and Hasan Mahmood two for 25.

Fahad Babar then slammed a brilliant 61 off 48 balls with seven boundaries and one six but his heroics were in vain as Customs mustered only 133-7.

Sohail grabbed two wickets for 17 runs to clinch the man-of-the-match prize, jointly given by Zaheer Ahmed Sheikh and former Pakistan fast bowler Jalaluddin.

Leg-spinner Usman Qadir took two wickets for 24 runs.

Meanwhile in another match, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) scored a shock three-­wicket win against the fancied K-Electric. Opener Mohammad Afzal was the star for his team with a hurricane innings of 58 from just 24 deliveries while striking seven fours and three sixes. He was duly declared man-of-the-match as CAA surpassed their opponents’ tally of 135 all out.

The spin duo of Azam Khan and Ashar Qureshi shared six wickets between in a fine bowling effort.

Agha Salman made 42 in 34 balls with three boundaries and two sixes and Zeeshan Malik struck four boundaries in his 39 for K-Electric.

CAA, in reply, coasted home by making 139-7 in 18 overs thanks to Afzal’s aggressive display. Azam Khan scored an unbeaten 19 off 13 balls with two boundaries and one six.

Hassaan Khan took 3 wickets for 21 runs.

Summarised scores:

Dollar East beat Pakistan Customs by 25 runs.

DOLLAR EAST 158-7 in 20 overs (Sohail Akhtar 33, Khurram Manzoor 29, Ramiz Aziz 26; Faheem Ahmed 3-27, Hasan Mahmood 2-25); PAKISTAN CUSTOMS 133-7 in 20 overs ( Fahad Babar 61, Saad Khan 16, Hasnain Rizvi 13 not out, Akbar Babar 10; Sohail Akhtar 2-17, Usman Qadir 2-24).

Civil Aviation Authority beat K-Electric by three wickets.

K-ELECTRIC 135 in 19.3 overs (Agha Salman 41, Zeeshan Malik 39, Faraz Ahmed Khan 14, Imtiaz Leghari 13; Ashar Qureshi 3-18, Azam Khan 3-22); CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY 139-7 in 18 overs (Mohammad Afzal 58, Mohammad Taha 21, Azam Khan 19 not out, Fahaddis Bukhari 18; Hassan Khan 3-21, Agha Salman 2-24).

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2018