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LAHORE, Jan 13: A magnificent knock by Shahid Yousaf and devastating spell by pacers Ali Imran Pasha and Sarfraz Ahmad helped Sialkot Stallions (SS) reached the semi finals of the One-day cricket cup after registering an impressive 131-runs win in a crucial pool "A" match against Lahore Lions at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot on Thursday.
Shahid scored 94 off 97 balls with 10 boundaries to help Stallions amassed 226 for six in 39 allotted overs after put in to bat by Lions's skipper Humayun Farhat.Stallions were in deep trouble after losing four wickets at 53 in 11 overs, before Yousaf with Qaiser Abbas (45, two fours, 75 balls) boosted the innings with fifth wicket partnership of 134.
In reply, Lions failed to cope with the pressure as Ali and Sarfraz ripped through their innings for a total of 95 in 23.3 overs. Ali finished as main wicket taker four for 47 and Sarfraz most economically three for 20 in eight overs. Medium pacer Muhammad Asif, who recently returned home from Australia after making Test debut in the third Test against Australia finished with two for 24.
The win increased Stallions points to 14 from four matches - three wins and one draw - while Lahores had eight points from as many matches - two wins two loss - and the defeat had dimmed their chances for a semifinals' berth. They Lions have to beat Faisalabad Wolves in last match to book a place in last four.
SCOREBOARD
SIALKOT STALLIONS
Imran Nazir lbw Shahzad 15
Faisal Naveed lbw Wasim 5
Mansoor Amjad c Imran b Wasim 19
Atiq-ur-Rehman c Humayun b Wasim 2
Shahid Yousaf b Shahzad 94
Qaiser Abbas c Rashid b Wasim 45
Hafiz Khalid not out 21
Sarfraz Ahmed not out 6
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-9, W-4, NB-5) 19
TOTAL (for six wkts, 39 overs) 226
FALL OF WKTS: 1-21, 2-23, 3-25, 4-53, 5-187, 6-218.
BOWLING: Wasim Khan 8-1-39-4; Shahzad Butt 8-1-47-2; Imran Tahir 6-0-40-0; Khurram Chauhan 7-1-33-0; Jahnagir Mirza 6-0-34-0; Imran Farhat 4-0-23-0.
LAHORE LIONS
Kashif Siddique lbw Sarfraz 2
Imran Farhat c Imran b Ali 11
Shahnawaz Malik b Ali 9
Adnan Raza c Khalid b Ali 0
Humayun Farhat c Shahid b Sarfraz 20
Rashid Riaz lbw Ali 1
Jahnagir Mirza c Qaiser b Asif 18
Khurram Chauhan c Imran b Sarfraz 2
Wasim Khan c Mansoor b Asif 1
Imran Tahir run out 14
Shahzad Butt not out 9
EXTRAS (LB-1, W-3, NB-4) 8
TOTAL (all out, 23.3 overs) 95
FALL OF WKTS: 1-2, 2-23, 3-25, 4-27, 5-29, 6-53, 7-59, 8-64, 9-73.
BOWLING: Sarfraz Ahmed 8-0-20-3; Ali Imran Pasha 8-0-47-4; Muhammad Asif 6.3-1-24-2; Mansoor Amjad 1-0-3-0.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Shahid Yousaf.
UMPIRES: Saleem Badar-Riaz-ud-Din.
REFEREE: Abdul Sami Khan.
