KARACHI, Sept 4: Defending champions Ali Sports eased into the semi-finals of the 23rd Aga Khan Gymkhana Alokozay Ramazan Twenty20 cricket tournament with a convincing 88-run success over Qasmi CC at the AKG Ground here on Saturday.

Qasmi CC never threatened to get anywhere near a daunting target of 176 in the last quarter-final as they painfully struggled to 87-8 with Talha Fahim top-scoring with 22 off 38 balls.

Off-spinner Iqbal Shaikh bowled accurately to capture two wickets for just 12 runs in his quota of four overs.

After electing to bat first, Ali Sports amassed 175-8. Shahid Qambrani, the former Pakistan Under-19 batsman, hammered five boundaries in making 41 off 24 deliveries.

Iqbal Shaikh (29 off 21 balls, three boundaries), Riaz Mirani (29 at run-a-ball, two fours and one six) and Shoaib Jaffer (24 off 11 balls, four fours and one six) all made useful contributions.

Slow left-armer Fahim Ahmed Sr was best of Qasmi CC's bowlers with figures of three for 28, while left-arm medium-pacer Shahbaz Rafiq took two for 27 in four overs.

Iqbal Shaikh was declared Man-of-the-Match for his all-round contributions.

Meanwhile, the tournament organisers announced Pak Korangi CC as the winners of the rain-marred quarter-final against A.O. CC on a walkover after the latter refused to turn up for the replay of that match.

Pak Korangi CC will now meet Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) in the second semi-final on Monday. Sunday's first last-four fixture pits Ali Sports against Medicam CC.

The tournament concludes on Wednesday with the final.

Summarised scores:

ALI SPORTS 175-8 in 20 overs (Shahid Qambrani 41, Iqbal Shaikh 29, Riaz Mirani 29, Shoaib Jaffer 24; Fahim Ahmed Sr 3-28, Shahbaz Rafiq 2-27); QASMI CC 87-8 in 20 overs (Talha Fahim 22; Iqbal Shaikh 2-12).

Sunday's fixture:

Medicam CC v Ali Sports (first semi-final) at 2:30pm.