KARACHI: Wednesday turned to be an excellent day for the Punjab metropolis at the National T20 Cup in Multan as both Lahore outfits emerged victorious over the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Defending champions Lahore Blues, who lost to the Whites on Monday’s opening day, proved too strong for a lethargic Rawalpindi side in the early game. A few hours later Lahore Whites cruised to a 22-run success against Imad Wasim-led Islamabad.

Rawalpindi found the going extremely hazardous against a portent Lahore Blues led by evergreen seamer Aizaz Cheema and skipper Saad Nasim as they limped to 117-8 after being put into bat.

Opener Nasir Nawaz scored at a brisk rate to make 32 off 26 balls with the aid four fours and one six. Haider Ali was the next best run-getter with 26 from 23 balls as he struck three boundaries, while late in the innings Khalid Usman lifted the white Kookaburra for a couple of sixes as the all-rounder contributed an unbeaten 17 in 11 deliveries.

Aizaz captured three wickets for 31 runs and Saad’s leg-spinners fetched the wickets of Haider, Hammad Azam (2) and Sohail Tanvir (3) for 21 runs with both he and Aizaz completing their four-over spells.

The Blues struggled upfront, losing the first four wickets for 39 with the bulk of runs chiefly coming from opener Nauman Anwar, who scored a 31-ball 29 with five hits to the fence.

Agha Salman and Raza Ali Dar, however, revived the innings with a match-winning partnership of 64 to turn the tide in the Blues’ favour. Raza scored a 31-ball 26 (two fours), while man-of-the-match Salman batted until the end to finish on 38 not out with his 35-ball knock embedded with four boundaries.

Off-spinning all-rounder Zahid Mansoor snared two wickets for 21 runs in a tidy four-over quota.

Former Pakistan wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal and ex-national captain Salman Butt were the architects of Lahore Whites’ win against Islamabad with both men crossing the 50-run mark.

Batting first after Kamran had won the toss, the Whites made a brilliant start as the captain and Salman shared a first-wicket stand of 86 before Kamran departed for a blazing 389-ball 54 (eight boundaries and one six).

Salman was run out for 63 with his 49-ball contribution being highlighted by eight fours. The impetus to the innings was provided by young Saif Badar in 15-ball cameo of 28 not out (three fours and one six).

Islamabad launched their chase well as Abid Ali marked his first game in the event with a 20-ball 30 (five fours) while putting on 52 for the opening wicket with wicket-keeper Rohail Nazir (23 off 27 balls, one six and one four).

But once the first wicket fell, Islamabad failed to keep pace with the asking rate despite Faizan Riaz making an undefeated 29 (25 balls, three fours).

Off-spinner Bilal Asif picked up three wickets for 24 runs but his great effort still couldn’t prevent the man-of-the-match prize going to Kamran.

Umaid Asif and fellow paceman Amad Butt were also precise with their line and length in taking 2-22 and 2-29, respectively.

Wednesday’s results:

Lahore Whites beat Islamabad by 22 runs.

LAHORE WHITES 167-4 in 20 overs (Salman Butt 63, Kamran Akmal 54, Saif Badar 28 not out); ISLAMABAD 145-8 in 20 overs (Abid Ali 30, Faizan Riaz 29 not out, Rohail Nazir 23; Bilal Asif 3-24, Umaid Asif 2-22, Amad Butt 2-29).

Lahore Blues beat Rawalpindi by five wickets.

RAWALPINDI 117-8 in 20 overs (Nasir Nawaz 32, Haider Ali 26; Saad Nasim 3-21, Aizaz Cheema 3-31); LAHORE BLUES 121-5 in 19.1 overs (Agha Salman 38 not out, Nauman Anwar 29, Raza Ali Dar 26; Zahid Mansoor 2-21).

Thursday’s fixtures: Karachi Whites vs Fata (11:00am); Multan vs Peshawar (3:00pm).

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2018