KARACHI: Inspired by skipper Mohammad Sami’s hat-trick, Karachi Whites took a giant step towards the semi-finals of the National T20 Cup after sealing a convincing 38-run victory against holders Lahore Blues in Multan on Tuesday.

The former champions have never looked back after starting the competition at the Multan Cricket Stadium on a losing note when Sohaib Maqsood inspired Multan to an eight-wicket triumph last Tuesday. Their latest win was fourth on the trot, and with eight points, Karachi Whites are now almost guaranteed a last-four berth.

After posting 179-6 — the highest total of the event so far— following Saad Nasim’s decision to bowl first, Karachi Whites hardly encountered any threat from the Lahore Blues’ batsmen. Barring Rizwan Hussain and Saad no one else passed 20 while the asking rate kept mounting.

Rizwan was the top-scorer with a 40-ball 45 that included four boundaries and one six, while Saad hit 23 off 17 balls.

Man-of-the-match Sami eventually finished with magnificent figures of 5-14 in 3.4 overs after the skipper himself came into the attack as the fifth bowler. Pakistan left-armer Rahat Ali was rather expensive in grabbing 3-44 in four overs while spinner Raza Hasan bowled tidily to take 1-21 in four overs.

But the icing on the cake was ultimately provided by Sami. The 37-year-old former Pakistan fast bowler, who had already dismissed Agha Salman and Rizwan early on, cleaned up Mohammad Irfan (9) and wicket-keeper Farhan Khan before trapping fellow ex-Pakistan paceman Aizaz Cheema LBW to grab the second T20 hat-trick of his long career.

Sami’s previous hat-trick was for Duronto Rajshahi against Dhaka Gladiators in the 2011-12 Bangladesh Premier League match in Dhaka where his third victim was his former Pakistan team-mate Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

Upfront Karachi Whites were well served by their left-handed opener Awais Zia, who clobbered seven fours and three sixes in his 43-ball 68 after seeing his partner Khurram Manzoor departing for 18.

In-form Khurram’s run of four successive half-centuries came to a cruel end when he was controversially given out by umpire Wasimuddin despite the ball from slow left-armer Mohammad Irfan striking him outside the line of off stump — which was clearly evident on the TV replays — as the discarded Pakistan batsman missed an attempted sweep.

Shoaib Malik also made his presence felt by contributing 48 from 36 balls with the aid of two sixes and a brace of fours. The ex-Pakistan captain and Awais were involved in a third-wicket partnership of 80 to set a strong platform for a big total.

Meanwhile, last season’s runners-up Lahore Whites — still missing the bereaved Kamran Akmal and younger brother Umar — capitulated to their third consecutive defeat as Multan completed a seven-wicket win.

Salman Butt took everyone by surprise by deciding to bat first. He was left to rue his decision since Lahore Whites plodded to only 109-7 despite Ali Khan single-handedly being responsible for a 36-ball 43 (one six and one four).

Saif Badar hit a 27-ball 20 but the rest fared miserably against the accurate bowling from Multan. Leg-spinner Mohammad Irfan Khan (2-17 in four overs) probably delivered the ball of the tournament when he bamboozled Salman (19 off 28 balls) with a lovely delivery that turned appreciably to hit the top of the middle stump.

Mohammad Hafeez, who was later named the man-of-the-match, batted with consummate ease to finish on an undefeated 46 — with his 38-ball effort decorated with five fours and two sixes — after taking 1-18 in four overs.

Sardar Hasan Raza struck a 34-ball 34 (five fours) while putting on 45 with Hafeez for the second wicket.

Tuesday’s results:

Karachi Whites bt Lahore Blues by 38 runs.

KARACHI WHITES 179-6 in 20 overs (Awais Zia 68, Shoaib Malik 48, Danish Aziz 19 not out; Mohammad Irfan 2-31, Hussain Talat 2-31); LAHORE BLUES 141 in 18.4 overs (Rizwan Hussain 45, Saad Nasim 23; Mohammad Sami 5-14, Rahat Ali 3-44).

Multan bt Lahore Whites by seven wickets.

LAHORE WHITES 109-7 in 20 overs (Ali Khan 43, Saif Badar 20; Mohammad Irfan Khan 2-17); MULTAN 113-3 in 17.2 overs (Mohammad Hafeez 46 not out, Sardar Hasan Raza 33).

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

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2018