Rizwan, Fakhar on song in another big win
KARACHI: Pakistan batsman Mohammad Rizwan stole the limelight in the third Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cricket Tournament with a superlative century while Fakhar Zaman played a whirlwind innings as Dollar East romped to an emphatic 156-run win over Kashmore CC late on Tuesday night.
Rizwan and Fakhar were involved in a rollicking opening partnership of 201 off mere 94 deliveries to propel their side to a commanding T20 score of 230-4 in the Group ‘D’ clash at the Lawai Cricket Stadium.
Rizwan led the way by helping himself to a breathtaking101 from only 50 balls, while striking seven sixes and nine fours. The left-handed Fakhar was unfortunate to miss out on a century when he was dismissed for a cavalier 95 off just 47 balls with his blazing effort containing six boundaries and eight sixes.
Kashmore CC, in reply, were sent packing for a pathetic 74 in 16.2 overs. Seasoned first-class player Khurram Shehzad produced a devastating spell of off-spin bowling to grab five wickets for 11.
While Dollar East celebrated their second straight success in the event, Rizwan was adjudged man-of-the-match.
Earlier on Tuesday, Alamgir Gymkhana suffered a heartbreaking one-wicket defeat — their second in the competition — against BankIslami despite an excellent Mohammad Hasan century.
Hasan, a right-handed wicket-wicket/batsman, struck a 61-ball undefeated 100 with the aid of 11 fours and four sixes as Alamgir Gymkhana reached 171-4 in 20 overs.
But BankIslami managed to reach 173-9 on the penultimate ball of the match for the loss of nine wickets to register their second victory in the tournament.
Hasan was declared man-of -the-match.
Summarised scores:
Dollar East bt Kashmore CC by 156 runs.
DOLLAR EAST 230-4 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 101, Fakhar Zaman 95; Farhan Ali 2-16, Imran Ali 2-35); KASHMORE CC 74 in 16.2 (Asif Ali 17; Khurram Shehzad 5-11, Azam Khan 2-8).
BankIslami bt Alamgir Gymkhana by one wicket.
ALAMGIR GYMKHANA 171-4 in 20 overs (Mohammad Hasan 100 not out, Najeebullah 27, Saud Shakeel 21); BANKISLAMI 173-9 in 19.5 overs (Shafahat Hussain 38, Talha Fahim 34, Tariq Murad 22; Shiraz Hussain 3-25, Nabeel Hashmi 2-35, Salman Zeb 2-62).
Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2015
On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play