KARACHI, March 19 Multan Tigers qualified for the semi-finals of the RBS National One-day Cup cricket tournament after remaining unbeaten at the conclusion of the Group `A` matches on Thursday.

The Tigers chalked up their fifth straight win after defeating Abbottabad Rhinos by five wickets at the NBP Sports Complex with all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez - not be confused with the Pakistan Test player - producing a fine all-round performance.

Hafeez, a 34-year-old who bats and bowls left-handed, claimed a career-best four for 47 in 10 overs of spin bowling as the Rhinos made 239-9 in their 50 overs after Tigers skipper Abdur Rauf elected to first at the toss.

The Tigers wrapped up the match in the 45th over of their innings by making 241 for five. Kashif Naveed continued his good run with a 74-ball 79 (11 fours), Hafeez scored 66 off 55 balls with nine fours and one six while opener Sohaib Maqsood struck eight boundaries in making 53 off 74 deliveries.

Karachi Dolphins finished second in the group standings after their skipper Khalid Latif scored his third century of the tournament in a massive total of 341-7 against hosts Hyderabad Hawks at the Niaz Stadium.

Khalid made an even 100 (125 balls, eight boundaries) as he and fellow opener Ali Asad (85 off 90 balls, eight fours and one six) put on 185 for the first wicket. The Dolphins were further boosted by a quickfire 58 from Asad Shafiq, who hit seven fours in a 44-ball knock, and all-rounder Tariq Haroon`s blistering unbeaten 41 off just seven deliveries with seven boundaries.

The Hawks were dismissed for 275 in the 47th over with Tariq Haroon (3-46) and slow left-armer Faraz Ahmed Khan (3-55) sharing bowling honours.

In an inconsequential fixture at the National Stadium here, Rawalpindi Rams handed Quetta Bears their fifth successive defeat in a 203-run win that enabled them to end Group `A` in third spot.

The Tigers have a long gap before they play the Group `C` winners in the semi-final at Lahore Gaddafi Stadium on March 30. Meanwhile, the remaining semi-finalists would be decided after the matches of the three groups end on March 28. The action in these groups starts from Saturday after matches in the Punjab region were put off last week because of uncertain political situation.

The winners of Group `B` and Group `D` will meet in the other semi-final, also on March 30, at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

Results

Group `A`

At NBP Sports Complex, Karachi Multan Tigers beat Abbottabad Rhinos by five wickets.

ABBOTTABAD RHINOS 239-9 in 50 overs (Usman Khan 51, Hammad Ali Shah 48; Mohammad Hafeez 4-47, Faisal Elahi 2-38); MULTAN TIGERS 241-5 in 44.1 overs (Kashif Naveed 79, Mohammad Hafeez 66 not out, Sohaib Maqsood 53).

At National Stadium, Karachi Rawalpindi Rams beat Quetta Bears by 203 runs.

RAWALPIDI RAMS 301 in 50 overs (Babar Naeem 55, Yasim Murtaza 52, Zahid Mansoor 47, Usman Saeed 41; Nazar Hussain 3-38, Irfan Ismail 2-70); QUETTA BEARS 98 in 20.5 overs (Rashid Latif 5-30, Mohammad Ayaz 4-34).

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad Karachi Dolphins beat Hyderabad Hawks by 66 runs.

KARACHI DOLPHINS 341-7 in 50 overs (Khalid Latif 100, Ali Asad 85, Asad Shafiq 58, Tariq Haroon 41 not out; Lal Kumar 3-67); HYDERABAD HAWKS 275 in 46.2 overs (Noor Mohammad Khokhar 68, Aqeel Anjum 62, Kashif Bhatti 42, Lal Kumar 31; Tariq Haroon 3-46, Faraz Ahmed Khan 3-55).