RAWALPINDI -  Wajid Alam excelled in defending champions Peshawar’s thrashing 7-wicket victory over Rawalpindi in the 6th National Disabled T20 Cricket Championship 2017-18 second match played here at Pindi Stadium Wednesday.

The match was reduced to 15 overs aside due to Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators match, which would be staged at the same venue today (Thursday). Rawalpindi, batting first, were off to sensational start as openers Kashif and Sajjad struck 62-run for opening stand but even then Pindi boys failed to capitalise and could only score 124-9 in 15 overs. Kashif was top scorer with 33 and Sajjad hit 30. Usama was the pick of Peshawar bowlers as he grabbed 3-19 while Fayaz took 3-29.

Peshawar fielding was absolutely world class as they held onto their catches and their throws and diving were excellent. It was hard to believe that the players with one hand and one leg were displaying such skills. It was highly thin crowd present at the venue while Pindi Stadium manager Shoukat Jadoon, Pakistan Disabled Cricket Association (PDCA) head coach Sabih Azhar were the main attractions, while PDCA president Rashid Latif and others were missing from the venue and were present at Diamond ground.

Peshawar got off to whirlwind start as opener Adeel Khan hit 1 six and 1 fours in the very first over and it seemed Peshawar would wrap up the match in 10 overs, but after hitting two brilliant strokes, Adeel threw away his wicket. His early departure couldn’t hammer Peshawar plans, as opener Wajid Alam smashed unbeaten 63 off 38 balls, hitting 5 fours and 3 sixes while Izhar Ali contributed 31 with the help of 4 boundaries and 1 six. M Shahid got 1-9. Pindi Cricket Stadium manager Shoukat Jadoon was chief guest on the occasion and gave away player of the match award to Wajid Alam.

In the earlier match played at the same venue, Abbottabad and Sialkot played out a highly tense and entertaining tie, as both teams scored 138 runs each in allotted 15 overs. The highlight of the day was swashbuckling 13-ball half century from Sialkot opener Ali Raza. Batting first, Sialkot could score 138-8 with Ali Raza smashing 53 off 13 balls with the help of 7 fours and 4 sixes. Besides Ali Raza, only Najam-ul-Hassan played well and hit 27. Faisal Hayat bagged 3-13 and Raaj Wali 3-22.

Abbotabad, in reply, also scored 138-7 in 15 overs. They required 10 runs in the final over, but they could score 9 and the match ended in a draw and both the teams shared one point apiece. M Hussain slammed 52 off 30 balls studded with 4 sixes while Latif Ullah made 22. Rana Naveed and M Abid got one wicket each. Ali Raza of Sialkot was named player of the match.

In the first match played at Diamond ground, Lahore thrashed AJK by massive 160 runs. After first day matches were washed out due to rain, Diamond was finally ready to host the second day of matches. Lahore, batting first, piled up massive 242-7 in 20 overs. M Shahbaz consumed 40 balls to hammer 86, hitting 10 fours and 3 sixes while M Safdar added 35. Off spinner Shoukat Ali took 2-28.

In reply, AJK innings were folded at meager 82 in 15.5 overs. M Aslam (29) and Asghar Ali (13) could cross the double figures. Left-arm spinner Abdullah Ejaz grabbed 3-7 nad M Zohaib got 2-32. Shahbaz was declared man of the match.

In the fourth and last match played also at Diamond ground, Islamabad hammered Fata by 10 wickets. Fata were bundled out for 56 in 15.4 overs with M Ikram scoring 15 and skipper Sher Ali Afridi 13. Waqaf Shah clinched 4-7 and Zubair Khan 4-13. Islamabad Disabled achieved the target in 6.1 overs without losing a wicket. Adil Abbasi hit 22 and Usman Paracha 15. Waqif Shah was named man of the match.