KARACHI: Opener Mohammad Ahmed scored a hurricane half-century while inspiring Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) in the semi-finals of the Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup T20 Cricket Tournament with a workmanlike 58-run victory over Pakistan Customs here on Tuesday night.

Ahmed, who replaced the injured Shan Masood, thrilled the Lawai Cricket Stadium crowd with a sterling 31-ball knock of 53 studded with six sixes and two boundaries in the first quarter-final.

Put into to bat by Pakistan Customs captain Ali Zaidi, SSGC posted 182-7. After man-of-the-match Ahmed’s heroics at the top, the experienced Tariq Haroon and Saifullah Khan Bangash maintained the aggressive approach.

Tariq blasted 43 in a 24-ball knock spiced with four sixes and two fours before he was caught on the boundary Hafiz Asad Baig while trying for a fifth maximum.

Wicket-keeper Saifullah bludgeoned an unbeaten 37 with his 24-ball effort containing four boundaries and a six as helped Tariq put on 73 for the fifth wicket.

Customs struggled early in the chase as they lost Asad Baig (2) and Hasan Mahmood (6).

Ali Zaidi scored 33 from 27 balls with three fours and two sixes and Daniyal Ahsan made 29 off 21 balls with two sixes and as many boundaries but their efforts were insufficient in keeping pace with the mounting run-rate.

The spin trio of Kashif Bhatti, Zafar Gohar and Usama Mir shared six wickets between them.

Summarised scores:

SSGC 182-7 in 20 overs (Mohammad Ahmed 53, Tariq Haroon 43, Saifullah Khan Bangash 37 not out; Hasan Mahmood 3-31, Yasir Hussain 2-24, Waqas Qudrat 2-31); PAKISTAN CUSTOMS 124-8 in 20 overs (Ali Zaid 33, Daniyal Ahsan 29, Tasawwar Abbas 20; Kashif Bhatti 2-21, Zafar Gohar 2-28, Usama Mir 2-34).

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2018