KARACHI: While Karachi Whites became outright leaders of the eight-team pool, holders Lahore Blues clinched a much-needed victory in the ongoing National T20 Cup in Multan with Khurram Manzoor and Rizwan Hussain playing sterling roles on Sunday.

Karachi Whites’ third triumph in four matches at the Multan Cricket Stadium was a close affair against traditional rivals Lahore Whites as they survived a late blitz from discarded Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz to secure win by just six runs.

Lahore Blues, in contrast, crui­sed to a comfortable seven-wicket success over Multan while moving up the ladder from bottom.

Understandably, both Lahore teams were without the Akmal brothers who had gone back to Lahore on Friday after their mother had died early that morning. Kamran, the regular skipper, and Umar are playing for the Whites while Adnan is in the Blues side.

Khurram is currently enjoying a purple patch as the 32-year-old opener registered a fourth successive half-century in this tournament. Following knocks of 62 versus Multan), 79 against Fata and 53 in Saturday’s fixture against Peshawar, he was on song once as Karachi Whites reached 145-6 after being put into bat.

Khurram, who struck eight boundaries in making 53 from only 39 deliveries, and fellow opener Awais Zia provided their side an electrifying start of 81. The left-handed Awais perished after scoring 30 off 27 balls with the aid of three fours and one six.

But after Khurram, who was adjudicated man-of-the-match, was dismissed by seamer Amad Butt, Karachi Whites lost their way as well. The promotion of Fawad Alam to No.4 further complicated matters because that move forced Shoaib Malik to take undue risks which brought up his dismissal.

Malik was bowled by Amad for a 21-ball 24 (two fours), while Fawad also scored 24 with his 23-ball knock featuring only one boundary.

Amad was the best of Lahore Whites bowling with figures of three for 19 in four overs, while fellow paceman Umaid Asif grabbed two wickets for 23 runs in four overs.

Lahore Whites, in reply, struggled from the onset of their chase before ending up totalling 139-9 mainly because of Wahab blasting a 25-ball 32 that include three fours and one six.

Stand-in skipper Salman Butt contributed a 25-ball 23 (two fours), Zeeshan Malik made a 20-ball 24 (two fours and one six) while Ali Khan hit one six and a four in scoring a 14-ball 22.

Malik snared two wickets — those of Salman and his opening partner Umar Siddique (8) — for 24 runs in four tidy overs of off-spin.

Sohaib Maqsood was left to rue his decision to bat first sine Multan only managed to get 129-7 — a disappointing tally that saw just three batsmen reaching double figures with opener Sardar Hasan Raza being run out for a top-score of 46 (54 balls, four boundaries).

Mohammad Hafeez marked his first appearance in the competition since returning home the Test series against New Zealand with 19 off 20 balls (two fours), while all-rounder Mohammad Imran hit up a nine-ball 14 not out down the order, Lahore Blues captain Saad Nasim claimed 2-20 with his leg-spinners.

Rizwan then set about ensuring the champions chase down the runs successfully as the 22-year-old right-handed opener slammed 58 from 41 balls while striking eight fours and one six. It was man-of-the-match Rizwan’s third 50-plus score in the event.

Agha Salman was still at the crease when the match finished. The right-handed all-rounder struck three boundaries in a 22-ball 26, while Hussain Talat contributed a 23-ball 22 (one four).

Sunday’s results:

Lahore Blues beat Multan by seven wickets.

MULTAN 129-7 in 20 overs (Sardar Hasan Raza 46, Mohammad Hafeez 19; Saad Nasim 2-20); LAHORE BLUES 133-3 in 19.3 overs (Rizwan Hussain 58, Agha Salman 26 not out, Hussain Talat 22).

Karachi Whites beat Lahore Whites by six runs.

KARACHI WHITES 145-6 in 20 overs (Khurram Manzoor 53, Awais Zia 30, Shoaib Malik 24, Fawad Alam 24; Amad Butt 3-19, Umaid Asif 2-23); LAHORE WHITES 139-9 in 20 overs (Wahab Riaz 32 not out, Zeeshan Ashraf 24, Salman Butt 23, Ali Khan 22; Shoaib Malik 2-24).

Monday’s fixtures: Peshawar vs Islamabad (11:00am); Rawalpindi vs Fata (3:00pm).

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2018