KARACHI, Dec 23: Reigning champions Sialkot Stallions bulldozed their way into the semi-finals of the third ABN-AMRO Twenty20 Cup with a seven-wicket rout of Hyderabad Hawks at the UBL Sports Complex here on Saturday.
Peshawar Panthers also qualified for the last-four stage when they trounced Islamabad Leopards by 65 runs at the National Stadium to chalk up their second win in Group ‘C’.
The Stallions, winners of the farcical match against Karachi Zebras decided on Duckworth and Lewis method late on Friday night (see separate story), finished unbeaten in Group ‘B’ with two victories.
Chasing a modest 144, Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik led the way with an unbeaten 53 as the Stallions leisurely romped home with an over to spare. Shoaib, the man-of-the-match, struck five boundaries and a six.
Shahid Yousuf (32 off 21 balls, two sixes and as many fours) and Qaiser Abbas (36 off 27 balls, two fours and a six) also played good knocks in useful partnerships with Shoaib.
Earlier, Rizwan Ahmed’s undefeated 42 off 40 deliveries was the solitary bright note for the Hawks, who had elected to bat first after winning the toss.
Although Mohammad Asif didn’t take a wicket, he looked threatening even on a slow pitch. During the game a few young kids wanted to take autograph of the Pakistan fast bowler but the rude behaviour of the Stallions’ coach Azmat Rana quashed their dreams.
Instead of being considerate and kind, Azmat, one of the countless one-Test wonders of Pakistan cricket, asked the policemen present near the pavilion to perform their duty and keep the kids away from the players.
The Panthers made 147 for six after Shoaib Akhtar, the Leopards, elected to bowl first. Wajahatullah Wasti (48 off 38 balls, two fours and six) and Riffatullah Mohmand (44 off 43, two fours) shone for the Panthers.
But the architect of their fine win was ex-Test seamer Fazle Akbar, who took three for nine in a fiery three-over spell as the Leopards limped to 81 for eight in response. He was declared man-of-the-match
The Stallions, meanwhile, were declared their winners by two runs despite being bundled out for a measly 106 against the Zebras, who needed 38 off 37 balls when the match was stopped because of light failure here at the National Stadium.
The star-studded Stallions were once reeling at 47 for six after Imran Nazir won the toss. But Rana Naved-ul-Hasan blasted 28 off 23 balls (two sixes and a four) to ensure his side cross the three-figure mark.
Left-arm medium-pacer Malik Aftab, named man-of-the-match, did most of the damage to finish with four for 17 in four overs. Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria was also impressive on the night as he claimed three for 11 in four overs.
Skipper Hasan Raza (28 off 33 balls, two fours) and Faisal Iqbal (22 off 31 balls, two fours) were the main run-getters as the Zebras reached 69 for five in 13.5 overs before the bizarre conclusion to the match.
Asif, playing his first game in a while, bowled superbly to take two for 11 in four overs including the vital scalp of Faisal. Naved took one for 16 in three, his victim being Asim Kamal for a second-ball duck.
Shoaib Akhtar, the other fast bowler in the headlines, was taken apart for 20 runs in his final over as Islamabad Leopards lost to Multan Tigers by 21 runs in a Group ‘C’ tie played under floodlights at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium on Friday.Multan Tigers, bating first, collected 147 for eight in their 20 overs. Kamran Hussain (44 off 32 balls, nine fours), Saeed Anwar Junior (24 off 17 balls, four fours) and Kashif Naveed (23) were the chief scorers.
Former Test all-rounder Azhar Mahmood (3-17) and Bilal Asad (3-19) were the Leopards’ leading bowlers while Shoaib ended up with none for 30.
The Leopards looked on course for a victory at 77 for three at the halfway stage, but leg-spinner Imranullah Aslam turned the tide in Tigers’ favour with a remarkable spell of five for 17.
Shabbir Ahmed continued his rehabilitation with another impressive spell. The Tigers skipper captured three for 15 in 3.1 overs, including Bazid Khan, who made 53 off 45 balls (five fours and a six).
But the man-of-the-match award went to the relatively unknown Imranullah.
Summarised scores:
At UBL Sports Complex: Sialkot Stallions beat Hyderabad Hawks by seven wickets.
HYDERABAD HAWKS 143-4 in 20 overs (Rizwan Ahmed 42 not out; Tahir Mughal 2-22); SIALKOT STALLIONS 144-3 in 19 overs (Shoaib Malik 53 not out, Qaiser Abbas 36, Shahid Yousuf 32; Farhan Ayub 2-23).
At National Stadium: Peshawar Panthers beat Islamabad Leopards by 65 runs.
PESHAWAR PANTHERS 146-6 in 20 overs (Wajahatullah Wasti 48, Riffatullah Mohammad 44, Riaz Afridi 23; Rao Iftikhar 2-27); ISLAMABAD LEOPARDS 8-8 in 20 overs (Fazle Akbar 3-9).Played on Friday night:
At Asghar Ali Shah Stadium: Multan Tigers beat Islamabad Leopards by 21 runs.
MULTAN TIGERS 147-8 in 20 overs (Kamran Hussain 44, Saeed Anwar Junior 24, Kashif Naveed 23; Azhar Mahmood 3-17, Bilal Asad 3-19); ISLAMABAD LEOPARDS 126 in 18.1 overs (Bazid Khan 53, Bilal Asad 22; Imranullah Aslam 5-17, Shabbir Ahmed 3-15).
At National Stadium: Sialkot Stallions beat Karachi Zebras by two runs (D/L Method).
SIALKOT STALLIONS 106 in 17.5 overs (Rana Naved-ul-Hasan 28; Malik Aftab 4-17, Danish Kaneria 3-11); KARACHI ZEBRAS 69-5 in 13.5 overs (Hasan Raza 28, Faisal Iqbal 22; Mohammad Asif 2-11).
Sunday’s fixtures: Lahore Lions v Quetta Bears at NBP Sports Complex (10.00am); Interloop Wolves Faisalabad v Abbottabad Rhinos at National Stadium (5.00pm); Lahore Eagles v Karachi Dolphins at National Stadium (8.30pm).