0
KARACHI, Dec 26: Despite a brilliant all-round performance by young Fawwad Alam, Karachi Dolphins failed to stop Sialkot Stallions from retaining their ABN-AMRO Twenty20 Cup title at the National Stadium here on Tuesday night.
Chasing a target of 152, the Dolphins replied with 137 for seven as the Stallions won the final by 14 runs in front of a crowd of 20,000.
The match was all but over when the final over arrived with the Dolphins needing 23 runs. But they lost the wickets of Wasim Naeem and crucially that of Fawwad to the first two deliveries as the celebrations in the Stallions camp got under way.
As long as Fawwad was at the crease, the Dolphins had an outside chance of upsetting the odds against the overwhelming favourites who had the luxury of having the likes of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Mohammad Asif, Shoaib Malik and Abdur Rehman in their bowling armoury.
Fawwad, who hit three fours and one six when the talented left-hander hoisted Asif over midwicket in the 16th over, was however satisfied on being declared Man-of-the-Match as well as tournament’s outstanding batsman and bowler.
Fawwad also had great time in the first half of the match when he grabbed five wickets for 27 with his slow left-armers after Dolphins skipper Naumanullah, leading in the absence of Shahid Afridi who had proceeded for Hajj earlier in the day, opted to field first after winning the toss.
Imran Nazir was the leading run-getter for the Stallions for second consecutive night. He hit 46 off 31 deliveries with the aid of seven fours and one six.
Shoaib Malik repeated his 31 that he scored against Lahore Lions in the semi-final. His 23-ball knock contained three fours and one six as Imran and he added 80 for the opening stand.
Shahzad Malik also made a vital contribution in the closing overs as he clobbered two sixes in making a 22-ball 30.
Imran Nazir received the winners prize-money of Rs1 million along with the trophy while Naumanullah collected Rs500,000 as the Dolphins finished runners-up for the second time in three seasons.
Among other individual awards, Mohammad Asif was adjudged the best fielder of the championship while Mohammad Salman of the Interloop Faisalabad Wolves received the best wicket-keeper award.
Scoreboard
SIALKOT STALLIONS:
Imran Nazir b Wasim 46
Shoaib Malik c Sami b Azam 31
Shahid Yousuf c Sarfraz b Azam 0
Qaiser Abbas c Maisam b Fawwad 17
Shahzad Malik b Wasim 30
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan b Fawwad 1
Hafiz Khalid b Fawwad 3
Tahir Mughal c Sami b Fawwad 3
Abdur Rehman b Fawwad 8
Mansoor Amjad run out 5
Mohammad Asif not out 1
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-5) 6
TOTAL (all out, 20 overs) 151
FALL OF WKTS: 1-80, 2-80, 3-83, 4-116, 5-129, 6-133, 7-134, 8-145, 9-145.
BOWLING: Mohammad Sami 4-0-34-0 (1w); Anwar Ali Khan 4-0-34-0 (1w); Azam Hussain 4-0-20-2; Wasim Naeem 4-0-35-2 (2w); Fawwad Alam 4-0-27-5.
KARACHI DOLPHINS:
Shadab Kabir b Asif 7
Khalid Latif lbw b Asif 7
Fawwad Alam c Rehman b Tahir 54
Maisam Hasnain b Rehman 21
Naumanullah c Asif b Rehman 18
Wasim Naeem run out 7
Mohammad Sami c Mansoor b Tahir 7
Anwar Ali Khan not out 1
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-9, W-2) 15
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs) 137
FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-23, 3-79, 4-110, 5-129, 6-129, 7-137.
DID NOT BAT: Sarfraz Ahmed, Fahad Iqbal, Azam Hussain.
BOWLING: Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 4-0-15-0; Mohammad Asif 4-0-27-2; Shoaib Malik 4-0-30-0; Tahir Mughal 4-0-31-2 (1w); Abdur Rehman 4-0-21-2 (1w).
UMPIRES: Nadeem Ghauri and Riazuddin.
TV UMPIRE: Siddique Khan.
MATCH REFEREE: Anwar Khan.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Fawwad Alam
