RAWALPINDI - Islamabad beat Rawalpindi by 2 runs in the National T20 Cup 2017-18 second match played here at Pindi Stadium on Sunday.

Rawalpindi required 18 runs in the final over, but Rahat Ali didn’t allow Pindi to gather required runs. Rawalpindi, mainly depending on outstation players, got off to worst possible start. Opener Ahsan Ali was out in the very first over by lanky pacer M Irfan. Zain Abbas then joined Umar Amin and both scored 81 runs for the third-wicket partnership. Umar Amin was then shown the pavilion, while Zain was dropped by Adil Amin but the ball hit the non-strikers end and Iftikhar Ahmed, who was out of his crease, was given out.

M Nawaz then tried to carry the day for the team, but his efforts just fell short by just two runs. Umar Amin made 56 off 36 balls, studded with 8 fours and 2 sixes while M Nawaz made unbeaten 43. Shan Masood was named player of the match. M Irfan captured 2-29 while Hassan Raza and Umar Gul took one wicket apiece.

Earlier, Rawalpindi won the toss and opted to bowl first. Helped by opener Shan Masood, Islamabad got off to flying start as they scored 137-2 in 15 overs. But sensational bowling by Irfan Junior, Nawaz and M Asghar in depth restricted Islamabad to 175-4. When Shan lost his wicket at 83, Islamabad failed to capitalise their powerful start. Skipper Zohaib Ahmed wasted 4 precious balls of Asghar in the 19th over, while Irfan conceded just 8 runs. Nauman Anwar made 33 off 17 balls, while Zohaib hit 18. M Abbas took 2-32.

Earlier in the first match of the day, Fata hammered Peshawar by 6 wickets. Fata, coached by young Ayaz Akbar Yousafzai, opted to field first. The decision paid off as they sent both explosive openers Riffat Ullah Mohmand and Israrullah sent packing at 29. After that, they kept on losing wickets, but then Muqaddis Ahmed (518) and Naved Yasin (30) helped Peshawar post a decent total of 164-6. Leg spinner Usama Mir and speedster Ahmed Jamal took 2 wickets each.

Thanks to brilliant 56 opening stand between Mukhtar Ahmed and Awais Zia, Fata achieved the target in 18.5 overs losing 4 wickets. Awais Zia slammed 50 hitting 8 fours and 1 six while Hammad Azam hit unbeaten 38. Awais Zia was named player of the match. Lahore Blues will face Faisalabad in the first match at 12:00pm today (Monday), while Lahore Whites will take on Karachi Whites at 4pm.

Once again it was highly disappointing crowd, as PCB’s tournament organising committee chairman Haroon Rasheed didn’t bother to reach Rawalpindi. A PCB official on the condition of anonymity has confirmed that passes are yet to hand over to them and they are still waiting to get them for the distribution among the masses. When asked how regional heads and their near and dear ones have been enjoying all the benefits, while general public is suffering, he didn’t have any answer. The sources confirmed to this scribe that all this fuss is self-created on the directives of a highly influential person, who has destroyed cricket in twin cities and mainly responsible for ignoring local players and including outsiders just to get maximum favours.

The sources said PCB manager Shoukat Jadoon is also keeping mum on pathetic state-of-affairs of the stadium. The washrooms are filthy and there is acute shortage of water for the commuters. The empty seats are clear indication that certain elements want to sabotage the event. The

Rawalpindi-Islamabad based cricketers and officials have announced to stage protest rallies outside Diamond ground, if justice is not provided to them.