KARACHI: Veteran all-rounder Tariq Haroon scored a fine half-century as Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) breezed into the quarter-finals of the Naya Nazimabad Ramazan Cup T20 Cricket Tournament with a six-wicket win over Rehman Foundation on Thursday night.

After restricting their hapless rivals to 103 all out in 19.5 overs of the Group ‘A’ fixture at the Lawai Cricket Stadium, SSGC simply raced to the modest target in just 16 overs.

Tariq, a seasoned campaigner still playing in top domestic competitions at the age of 41, thumped six fours and hoisted three sixes as well after SSGC had been in the doldrums at 25-3. The all-rounder ended up scoring 59 from 46 deliveries.

Tariq was overwhelmingly the dominant partner in the fourth-wicket partnership of 74 with Muzammil Nizam, who contributed an unbeaten 18 from 22 balls.

Off-spinner Rana Irfan caused the early damage with two wickets for 13 runs in a tidy four-over spell.

Earlier, Rehman Foundation never made any impact with the bat. Sohail Afzal scored 21 off 16 deliveries with two fours and one six.

Spinners Adil Amin and Kashif Bhatti and pace bowler Mohammad Irfan all captured two wickets each.

SSGC will now face a strong State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in their last league round on Sunday night to decide the pool champions.

Summarised scores:

REHMAN FOUNDATION 103 in 19.5 overs (Sohail Afzal 21, Mohammad Nadeem 17; Adil Amin 2-1, Mohammad Irfan 2-12, Kashif Bhatti 2-18); SSGC 106-4 in 16 overs (Tariq Haroon 59, Muzammil Nizam 18; Rana Irfan 2-13).

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2018