KARACHI: Peshawar Panthers continued their giant-killing act in the AlBaraka Bank presents Haier T20 Cup when they shocked six-time former champions Sialkot Stallions in the first semi-final at the National Stadium here on Saturday.

In a fascinating battle of fluctuating fortunes, the Panthers made their first knockout appearance all the memorable by reaching the title-decider with a thrilling six-run triumph.

The Panthers’ opponents in Sunday’s final were to be decided later on Saturday with Multan Tigers playing Lahore Lions in the other semi-final, at the time of filing this report.

Defending a total of 156, the Panthers once again showed tremendous commitment in the field much to the delight of their head coach Abdul Rehman.

Rehman, a former first-class cricketer who played for Pakistan Customs and inspired into taking coaching by ex-Pakistan paceman Jalaluddin, said it was a result of cohesion in the Panthers’ ranks that catapulted his charges to the final.

“As the coach I’m very happy for the team. What these boys have achieved today is no mean achievement. We worked very hard to get this far and it is a reward for the efforts put in by every member of the squad,” Rehman told Dawn.

“The commitment shown by the boys was brilliant, to say the least. This is a team that has no star value compared to the fancied sides which played here. But we never lost our focus and prepared as hard as we could for each match.”

The Stallions stuttered at the start of their chase when the in-form opener Mukhtar Ahmed, who set alight the tournament with an unforgettable century in the pool game against Karachi Dolphins six days ago, perished for a three-ball duck.

In the next over, Haris Sohail played all over a yorker and was bowled through the gate for one. And although, Mansoor Amjad (32 off 30 balls, three fours and one six) and Shahid Yousuf came together in a much-needed partnership, worth 80 from 54 deliveries, the Panthers kept pushing them back with regular strikes.

Shahid’s dismissal, stumped off a wide when his bat also slipped out of his hands, for a 35-ball 56 featuring eight boundaries and one six spelled the death-knell for the Stallions.

Panthers’ captain Zohaib Khan trusted left-arm seamer Imran Khan Junior, the 26-year-old from Swat who has been described as the find of the tournament, to deliver the last over when the Stallions required 12 runs.

Imran was impeccable with a subtle change of pace inspite of being handicapped by a side strain during his opening over; the first two of that final over were dot balls, the next produced two and the last three just singles.

Zohaib praised the youngster afterwards.

“He has been exceptional throughout. For someone playing his first national event, Imran has been sensational and I would say that he has been a real find for us. The self-belief in the team also contributed greatly in this victory.”

Zohaib himself had a great match. His slow left-armers fetched two wickets for only 22 runs to cap an excellent day for the Panthers skipper who earlier played a superb innings at a time when his team was in bother.

After the customary fireworks from Riffatullah Mohmand (35 off 24 balls, seven boundaries), the Panthers lost ground before Adil Amin (34 off 34, three fours) and Mohammad Fayyaz (21 off 22) controlled the middle overs.

The impetus was provided by Zohaib who blasted a 19-ball 30. After twice depositing his opposite number Abdur Rehman, the Pakistan spinner, for successive sixes over midwicket, he scooped paceman Bilawal Bhatti, ala Tillekeratne Dilshan style, high above the wicket-keeper and over the boundary for another six.

Abdur Rehman in his post-match comments lamented the absence of Shoaib Malik, the regular Stallions captain who missed the event because of his Champions League T20 commitments in India with Hobart Hurricanes.

“Definitely Malik not playing here was a major factor because he is our driving force behind many trophies we had won in the past. But all credit to Peshawar Panthers for playing a superb game,” Rehman remarked.

Scoreboard

PESHAWAR PANTHERS:

Riffatullah Mohmand c Ayaz b Rehman35

Israrullah run out13

Iftikhar Ahmed c Shakeel b Hasan1

Adil Amin c Mukhtar b Bilawal34

Mohammad Rizwan c and b Mukhtar4

Mohammad Fayyaz c Ali Khan b Adeel21

Zohaib Khan b Hasan30

Gauhar Ali not out3

Imran Khan Junior not out2

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-9)13

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs)156

FALL OF WKTS: 1-45, 2-50, 3-69, 4-75, 5-108, 6-150, 7-151.

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Imran Khan, Taj Wali.

BOWLING: Bilawal Bhatti 4-0-39-1 (2w); Hasan Ali 4-0-21-2; Adeel Malik 4-0-28-1 (1w); Abdur Rehman 4-0-36-1; Mukhtar Ahmed 4-0-28-1 (1w).

SIALKOT STALLIONS:

Mukhtar Ahmed c Rizwan b Taj0

Mansoor Amjad c Taj b Zohaib32

Haris Sohail b M. Imran1

Shahid Yousuf st Rizwan b Zohaib56

Adeel Malik c Zohaib b Imran Junior10

Ali Khan c Imran Junior b Taj14

Ayaz Tasawwar b M. Imran16

Bilawal Bhatti not out10

Shakeel Ansar not out1

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-3, W-2, NB-4)10

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs)150

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-2, 3-82, 4-107, 5-111, 6-124, 7-145.

DID NOT BAT: Abdur Rehman, Hasan Ali.

BOWLING: Taj Wali 4-0-24-2 (1w); Mohammad Imran Khan 4-1-17-2; Imran Khan Junior 4-0-39-1 (2nb); Zohaib Khan 4-0-22-2 (1w); Iftikhar Ahmed 1-0-13-0; Adil Amin 3-0-31-0.

RESULT: Peshawar Panthers won by six runs.

UMPIRES: Ahsan Raza and Riazuddin.

TV UMPIRE: Khalid Mahmood.

MATCH REFEREE: Mohammad Anees.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Zohaib Khan.

Published in Dawn, September 28th , 2014