RAWALPINDI - Overconfident Rawalpindi Rams crashed out of the Faysal Bank Twenty20 Cup for Regions, as they were hammered by minnows Karachi Zebras here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Zebras registered five-wicket victory against Rams. Zebras, requiring 140 runs for win, started the run-chase in a very positive mood, especially opener Fakhar Zaman was in hot form as he struck all the bowlers at will, while Hasan Raza gave solid support to Fakhar. Karachi lost first wicket at the total of 88 in 10.3 overs, when Hasan was finally out after scoring 22. Faisal Iqbal also got out cheaply, but Fakhar continued piling up runs and completed his half century in 42 deliveries. Fakhar was finally out after scoring match-winning 86 runs off 63 deliveries, hitting 12 fours and one six. Karachi achieved the victory in 19.3 overs losing five wickets. Nasir and Sohail Tanvir took two wickets each. Fakhar was declared player of the match.
Earlier, Rams opted to bat first. Awias Zia and Naved Malik flopped miserably for the third consecutive time to provide Rawalpindi reasonable opening stand and both were sent back to the pavilion in the first two overs. Shoail Tanvir (34) and Umer Amin (37) then helped Pindi post a fighting total of 139-8 in the allotted overs. Yasim Murtaza made unbeaten 27. Tabish Khan was the pick of Karachi bowlers as he grabbed 4-34 while right arm leg break spinner Shahzaib took 3-19.
Abbottabad Falcons pulled off a sensational two-run victory against Lahore Lions in a must-win game and stormed into the quarterfinals. Put into bat first, Abbottabad, despite losing just four wickets, were restricted to a modest total of 136-4 in the allotted overs. Skipper Younus Khan played a match-winning knock of 63 runs hitting four boundaries and one six while Yasir Hameed and Adnan Raees scored 26 runs each. Aizaz Cheema bowled well and took 2-19.
In reply, Lahore batsmen looked sluggish and played very casual shots, which led to their downfall. Lahore at one stage had lost five wickets for 73 runs but when sixth wicket fell at 75 and seventh at 88, Wahab Riaz then played some lusty strokes to give Lahore a glimmer of hope. Wahab remained top scorer with 29 runs and his departure at 121 signaled the end of Lahore resistance which were in need of nine runs in the last over with two wickets intact. Junaid Khan bowled the last over superbly, conceding six runs and also played major role in inflicting a run out as well. Besides Wahab, Nasir Jamshed made 20, M Hafeez 18 and Ahmed Shahzad 17. Yasir Shah clinched 3-19 while Khalid Usman and Ahmed Jamal got two wickets each. Younus Khan was named man of the match. Sialkot Stallions will take on Islamabad Leopards in the first quarterfinal today (Thursday) at 12pm while Lahore Lions will vie against Multan Tigers in the second quarterfinal at 4pm.