KARACHI: Long-discarded international Rameez Raja hammered an excellent half-century while inspiring National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) to shock six-wicket victory over holders Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) in the Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup T20 Cricket Tournament here on Sunday night.

After SNGPL had collected 163-6 at the at Lawai Cricket Stadium, Rameez, who represented Pakistan in a Twenty20 International, bludgeoned an carefree 42-ball 60 with four boundaries and three sixes as NBP romped home with five deliveries to spare.

SNGPL were struggling at the onset after winning the toss when half of their side was back in the hut with 97 runs on the board. Khurram Shahzad led the recovery with a fighting unbeaten 36 off 20 balls (four boundaries and one six), while skipper Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with 41 off 38 balls (three fours and a six).

Asif Ali smashed a brace of sixes in a 15-ball knock of 21 and Hussain Talat made 18 from 13 balls with three strikes to the ropes.

Former Pakistan left arm spinner Abdue Rehman bowled tightly to claim two wickets for 16 runs in four overs.

NBP lost opener Haris Ali (3) and Ahsan Ali (32, three fours and one six) before man-of-the-match Rameez and Naved Yasin (41 off 28 balls, four fours and two sixes) added 88 for the third wicket.

In another match, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) routed Brighto Paints by eight wickets with talented opener Sahibzada Farhan cracking an unbeaten 80 from 52 balls (eight fours and three sixes). Israrullah made 44 not out in 23 balls (three sixes and two fours).

Man-of-the-match Farhan and Israr shared an unbroken 87-run stand as SBP sealed second straight win after Brighto Paints had posted 169-9.

Summarised scores:

NBP beat SNGPL by six wickets.

SNGPL 163-6 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 41, Khurram Shehzad 36 not out, Asif Ali 21, Hussain Talat 18, Taimur Sultan 15, Asad Ali 13, Iftikhar Ahmed 12; Abdur Rehman 2-16, Ghulam Mudassar 2-46); NBP 166-4 in 19.1 overs (Rameez Raja 60, Naved Yasin 41, Ahsan Ali 32, Bilal Asif 15 not out, Raza Ali Dar 11 not out; Imran Ali 2-20)

SBP beat Brighto Paints by eight wickets.

BRIGHTO PAINTS 169-9 in 20 overs (Bilal Shah 37, Usman Nazeer 36, Raees Butt 36, Sabir Hussain 25; Zahid Mahmood 3-18, Musadiq Ahmed 2-35); SBP 171-2 in 18.3 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 80 not out, Israrullah 44 not out, Mukhtar Ahmed 29; Ali Yousuf 2-19).

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2018