Moin inspires Dolphins with quick century

LAHORE, April 25: A sizzling 59-ball 112 by former Pakistan skipper Moin Khan inspired Karachi Dolphins to a 17-run win against Lahore Lions in the inaugural ABN-Amro Twenty20 Cup at the Qadhafi Stadium on Monday and also sent a message to the selectors that he is still good enough to play international cricket.

Moin cracked six mighty sixes and eight fours to score the first century of the tournament as the Dolphins piled up 228-7 in the allotted 20 overs. During the course of his belligerent innings, the 33-year-old struck three consecutive sixes off off-spinner Salman Qadir, in the 14th over of the innings.

Moin came at the crease after Khurram Manzoor had been dismissed for eight and together with the left-handed Agha Sabir (43 off 28 balls, four fours and three sixes) mauled the Lions’ bowlers in a second wicket partnership of 103

Fahadullah (32 with three fours and one six) then helped Moin add 87 for the fourth wicket before the Dolphins’ skipper was bowled by a slower delivery from left-arm paceman Sajid Ali, who finished with three for 45.

Chasing a formidable target which was later revised at 207 in 18 overs, after a short power failure in the 11th over, the Lions lost their first two wickets quickly at 31.

However, Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq (45 off 20 balls with eight fours and one six) and Nasir Jamshed (35 off 28 balls with three fours) steadied the innings by adding 72 runs. But after their departure, the remaining batsmen found the runs hard to come by.

Off-spinner Haris Ayaz snared three for 32.

The fourth and final match of the evening, which featured Peshawar Panthers and Hyderabad Hawks, was in progress when this report was filed.

Scoreboard

KARACHI DOLPHINS:

Agha Sabir c Adnan b Salman 43

Khurram Manzoor c Adnan b Razzaq 8

Moin Khan b Sajid 112

Ahmer Saeed run out 0

Fahadullah b Razzaq 32

Aminur Rehman c Jahangir b Sajid 10

Haris Ayaz c Rashid b Sajid 5

Mohammad Farrukh not out 0