KARACHI: Peshawar became the first side to qualify for the PCB Inter-region Under-19 One-day Cup semi-finals after cruising to their sixth successive victory in the seventh-round of matches played on Monday.

Peshawar’s latest victims were regional neighbours Abbottabad as the Group ‘B’ leaders clinched a five-wicket win here at the National Stadium.

Karachi Blues also looked certain to make the last-four after completing a remarkable comeback in a low-scoring clash with traditional rivals Lahore Blues at the NBP Sports Complex where they emerged winners by 10 runs.

After being put into bat, Karachi Blues were shot out for just 74 in 24 overs with no less than seven batsmen failing to open their account as only opener Mohammad Shaheer (31 off 42 balls with five boundaries) and skipper Obaisullah Khan (20 not out off 49 balls, one four) managed to get into double figures.

Paceman Nasim Shah was the wrecker-in-chief with five wickets for 32 runs while off-spinner Mohammad Bilal Khan took 3-18.

Lahore Blues, in reply, suffered a sensational collapse after reaching 47-2, losing the last eight wickets for the addition of mere 17 runs with Attyab Ahmed top-scoring with a 41-ball 22 (four fours).

Karachi’s bowling heroes were the slow left-armers Nadir Shah (4-15 in 9 overs) and Tariq Khan (4-26 in 6.3 overs) with leg-spinner Ali Nasim taking 2-5.

Karachi Blues have the same number of points — 12 — as Peshawar but they have played seven matches.

Despite an undefeated knock of 85 (125 balls, six fours and one six) from captain Saad Khan, Hyderabad lost to Larkana by 19 runs at the UBL Sports Complex after off-spinner Hasan Ali grabbed 6-38 as Larkana made 175.

Sialkot’s left-arm spinner Hasnain snared astounding analysis of 5-7 in 8.1 overs while inspiring team to an eight-wicket victory against Bahawalpur at the TMC Ground.

Meanwhile, the Group ‘A’ fixtures scheduled for Islamabad were both called off without a ball being bowled because of soggy conditions.

Karachi Whites skipper Mohammad Taha captured five wickets for eight runs in 6.1 overs as Lahore Whites were dismissed for 71 in 25.1 overs after their game at the KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi was curtailed to 33 overs per side.

Karachi Whites required only a dozen overs to seal a 10-wicket triumph with Jahanzeb Sultan striking nine fours and one six in an unbeaten 54 off 43 deliveries.

The result meant Karachi are also in running for a semi-final place with nine points from seven matches.

In the inconsequential tie at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi drubbed Dera Murad Jamali by eight wickets after the game was reduced to a 45-over affair.

Monday results:

Seventh round:

Group ‘A’:

At Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi: Rawalpindi beat Dera Murad Jamali by eight wickets.

DERA MURAD JAMALI 108 in 33.3 overs (Mohammad 28, Mohammad Shahid 22; Shiraz Khan 3-12, Farhan Shafiq 2-21, Mohammad Suleman Khushi 2-33); RAWALPINDI 109-2 in 22.2 overs (Mubashir Khan 65 not out).

At KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi: Karachi Whites beat Lahore Whites by 10 wickets.

LAHORE WHITES 71 in 25.1 overs (Ahmed Butt 18; Mohammad Taha 5-8, Mohammad Makki 3-16); KARACHI WHITES 72-0 in 12 overs (Jahanzeb Sultan 54 not out).

At Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad: ISLAMABAD vs FAISALABAD — match abandoned without a ball being bowled

At National Ground, Islamabad: QUETTA vs FATA — match abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Group ‘B’:

At National Stadium, Karachi: Peshawar beat Abbottabad by five wickets.

ABBOTTABAD 164 in 46.1 overs (Abdur Rehman 34, Shahbaz Khan 21; Awais Ali Shah 4-27, Ijaz-ur-Rehman 2-22); PESHAWAR 167-5 in 41.2 overs (Mohammad Haris 61 not out, Mohammad Mohsin Khan 23, Awais Ali Shah 20 not out; Khalid Ali 3-32).

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi: Larkana beat Hyderabad by 19 runs.

LARKANA 175 in 46 overs (Javed Ali Khoso 46, Javed Lashari 28, Sharaf Din 23, Ashfaq Ahmed 21; Hasan Ali 6-38, Saad Khan 2-31); HYDERABAD 156 in 47 overs (Saad Khan 85 not out; Aamir Ali 3-12, Mehrab Khan 2-13, Javed Ali Khoso 2-45).

At TMC Ground, Karachi: Sialkot beat Bahawalpur by eight wickets.

BAHAWALPUR 98 in 42.1 overs (Ali Imran 25, Umar Rehman 22; Hasnain 5-7, Ghulam Mohiuddin 2-21); SIALKOT 99-2 in 18.5 overs (Mohsin Riaz 23 not out).

At NBP Sports Complex, Karachi: Karachi Blues beat Lahore Blues by 10 runs.

KARACHI BLUES 74 in 24 overs (Mohammad Shaheer 31, Obaisullah Khan 20 not out; Nasim Shah 5-32, Mohammad Bilal Khan 3-18); LAHORE BLUES 64 in 19.3 overs (Attyab Ahmed 22; Nadir Shah 4-15, Tariq Khan 4-26, Ali Nasim 2-5).

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2018