KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators Academy clinc­hed a narrow eight-run victory against Karachi Gym­khana to mark their debut in the 34th Karachi Gymkhana Omar Associates Ramazan Cricket Festival with a semi-final spot here on Tuesday.

The first of the quarter-finals at the Karachi Gymkhana Ground saw the Quetta academy successfully defend a modest total of 14308 by restricting the tournament hosts to 135-9 in the stipulated 20 overs despite a belligerent innings from former Pakistan opener Imran Nazir.

The explosive right-hander blasted exactly 50 from only 30 deliveries with the aid of five boundaries and three mighty sixes before off-spinner Abdul Nasir captured his prized wicket.

All-rounder Agha Salman slammed six boundaries in scoring a breezy 25 off only 14 balls while putting 47 for the second wicket with Imran until he was trapped leg-before-wicket by slow left-armer Abdul Malik.

Quetta captain Salahuddin, who like Malik and Nasir bagged two wickets, was declared man-of-the-match.

Earlier Niamat Khan hit a 32-ball 47 (five fours and three sixes) to top score for the academy team.

Summarised scores:

QUETTA GLADIATORS ACADEMY 143-8 in 20 overs (Niamat Khan 47, Ghulam Haider 31; Haider Ali 2-21, Agha

Salman 2-29, Mohammad Ali 2-32); KARACHI GYMKHANA 135-9 in 20 overs (Imran Nazir 50, Agha Salman 25; Abdul Nasir 2-20, Salahuddin 2-31, Abdul Malik 2-35).

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2019