KARACHI: A skipper’s innings from Shahrukh Asim inspired Nazir Hussain Gymkhana to a thrilling four-wicket win over Chenab CC in their KCCA Zone-I Challenge Cup T20 cricket tournament fixture here the other day.

Chasing 166 at the TMC Ground, Nazir Hussain Gymkhana were struggling at 125-5 with a handful of overs remaining. But Shahrukh kept his cool with devastating hitting as he thrashed an unbeaten 58 from just 20 balls with the aid of seven sixes and one four to guide his team with one over to spare.

Their second win enabled Nazir Hussain Gymkhana qualify for the last-eight stage from Pool ‘B’.

Earlier, leg-spinner Madni Zubair (3-20) and slow left armer Saqib Siddiqui (3-32) shared six wickets between them to curtail Chenab CC to 165-8.

In another match at the same venue, Nazir Hussain Gymkhana Colts went down by two wickets to Al-Karam CC.

Opener Akhtar Abbas starred for the winning side with a 38-ball knock of 57 (eight fours and one six), while Shahroz Khan top-scored for the colts team with 63 off 47 balls.

Summarised scores:

Nazir Hussain Gymkhana beat Chenab CC by four wickets.

CHENAB CC 165-8 in 20 overs (Shiraz Khan 38, Mohammad Ishtiaq 22, Mohammad Maisam 22; Madni Zubair 3-20, Saqib Siddiqui 3-23); NAZIR HUSSAIN GYMKHANA 166-6 in 19 overs (Shahrukh Asim 58 not out, Umar Siddique 22; Mohammad Akram 3-36, Noman Qabool 2-38).

Al-Karam beat Nazir Hussain Gymkhana Colts by two wickets.

NAZIR HUSSAIN GYMKHANA COLTS 180-7 in 20 overs (Shahroz Khan 63, Wahaj Iqbal 38, Hafiz Uzhair 24; Basat Khan 2-27, Waleed Khan 2-27, Mohammad Mushhfiq 2-45) Al-KARAM CC 184-8 in 19.3 overs (Akhtar Abbas 57, Zain-ul-Haq 30 not out; Hafiz Talha 3-34, Ahmed Talal 2-25).

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2018