KARACHI, Aug 5: Accurate spells of bowling by Mohammad Hafeez and Shahid Afridi guided Pakistan Tigers to a 20-run victory over Pakistan Panthers in the seventh practice game of the Twenty20 series at the National Stadium on Saturday.

The two all-rounders gave away just 41 runs between them in eight overs during the middle part of the Panthers’ innings which closed at 133 for four in reply to Pakistan Tigers’ 153 for seven in the floodlight fixture.

But the talk of the evening was the absence of fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, both of whom had left for Lahore, reportedly with fitness problems on Saturday.

Shoaib, who was supposed to play in this game, was reportedly handicapped by a stiff neck while Razzaq has been laid low by a viral infection.

Shoaib sent down just six overs when he played last Monday and looked anything but match fit as he clearly lacked in rhythm. Crucially, his pace was hardly threatening.

Judging by the form of both Shoaib and Razzaq in these matches as well as that of Mohammad Yousuf, who somehow appeared uncomfortable by the razzmatazz of Twenty20 cricket, it won’t surprise many if they find themselves on the sidelines when the selectors unveil the squad for the Twenty20 World Championship before the Aug 11 deadline.

After electing to bat first, the Tigers weathered a fiery opening burst from Mohammad Asif, who conceded just 17 runs in his four overs. However, the Panthers skipper failed to take a wicket.

Umar Gul, who missed Thursday’s game because of an injury to his bowling arm, took the wicket of Hafeez (8), but was hit for 34 runs in four overs.

Salman Butt, easily the most consistent batsman in the practice games, scored 24 off 28 balls in an innings that contained not a single boundary.

Shoaib Malik, the Pakistan captain, was the evening’s top-scorer; striking 51 off 41 balls with three fours and one six. However, in terms of aggression, it was Naved Latif who came up with a belligerent knock. He blasted three sixes and as many fours in a 23-ball 40.

Yasir Hameed was the chief run-getter for the Panthers. He slammed an undefeated 49 off 35 deliveries, the bulk of the runs coming via four sixes and one four. Opener Khalid Latif also played to score 36 at almost run-a-ball with five boundaries.

Hafeez was miserly in his four-over stint with his off-spinners going for just 16 runs. He also cut short Imran Farhat’s 26-ball innings of 22. Afridi, who took the wicket of Khalid Latif, conceded 25 runs in his four overs.

The last game in the eight-match series was being played under floodlights on Sunday.

Summarised scores: