RAWALPINDI - Lahore Blues Region advanced to the semifinals of the Cool & Cool Present Haier Q8 T20 Cup 2015 qualifying round, after defeating Larkana by five wickets in the third and last match of the qualifying round played under floodlights here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. Lahore Region skipper Adnan Akmal won the toss and invited Larkana to bat first. Larkana could only score 146-5. Bilal Irshad was their main run-getter with 43, while Asif Babar scored 41 and Zafar Ali 30. Qaiser, Waheed, Suleman, Bilawal and Atta got one wickets each for Lahore Blues.
Thanks to a patience knock by Imam-ul-Haq, who made solid 67, Lahore achieved the target in 19.3 overs losing five wickets. Lahore could have easily won the match in 17 overs, had Imam not played too cautiously, he is best suited to longer version of the game just like Asad Shafik.
Fahad-ul-Haq made 29 and Abi Ali 24, controversy erupted when Fahad was first given not out by the TV umpire, while replays clearly showed, the catch was neatly taken by the fielder, then TV umpire realizing his mistake press the red button.
Imam-ul-Haq was declared man of the match for his match-winning knock; Lahore Blues will face Bahawalpur in the first semifinal at 4pm, while Karachi Region Blues will take on Quetta in the second semifinal at 8pm.
Earlier, in the first match of the day, Karachi Region Blues once again survived a very close scare before carving out nerve-wrecking three-run victory against Bahawalpur Region.
Bahwalapur Region could have pulled off sensation victory despite chasing a huge target of 169 runs, they required 18 runs in the final over. Bahawalpur batsmen could only score 15 in the final over bowled by all-rounder Anwar Ali, who proved very expensive in the entire three matches he had played so far.
Karachi Region posted a very decent total of 168-3. Shahzaib Hasan made 63 in only 35 deliveries he faced, hitting 5 fours and 3 sixes, Fawad Alam remained unbeaten after scoring 55 in 43 deliveries, hitting 4 fours and 1 six. Karachi Blues management, instead of sending master blaster Sarfraz Ahmed, opted in favor of Asad Shafik, who made 25 runs consuming 22 deliveries, hitting 3 boundaries, Zahir was the most successful bowler grabbing 2 for 31.
Bahawalpur started their run-chase in style, thanks mainly to m Yasir, who made swashbuckling 81 in only 53 deliveries he faced, hammering 11 boundaries and 1 six, Shahan Alam made 25, but in the end, it was Bahawalpur's lack of experience, otherwise they could have achieve highly unlikely victory, as they fell short by just 3 runs, scoring 165 for the loss of 5 wickets, Abdul Amir grabbed 3 for 42 and Roman Riaz 2 for 20, Shahzaib Hasan was named player of the match.
In the second match of the day, Fata outclassed Dera Murad Jamali Region by 6 wickets in dead rubber. Dera Murad were bundled out for 111 in 19.2 overs. Abid Ali made 25 and Nasir Khan 23, M Sarwar and Sohrab share 2 wickets each conceding 16 an 24 runs respectively, while Asif Afridi and also share a wicket apiece conceding 10 and 15 runs each.
Fata Region achieved the target in 17.3 overs losing 4 wickets. Asad Afridi top scored with 49 studied with 2 fours and 4 sixes, Khushdil Shah 36, Muhammad Asim took 2 for 16 and Shabbir Ali 1 for 24, Asad Afridi was named player of the match.