RAWALPINDI - Islamabad routed mighty Peshawar by 42 runs in the 6th National Disabled T20 Cricket Championship 2017-18 semifinal played here at Pindi Stadium Friday.
Islamabad played like one-unit and excelled in all the departments to rout Peshawar by a massive margin. Islamabad skipper won the toss and opted to bat first. Soon they were in huge trouble, as they lost opener Usman at 16 and then they lost Naeem at 22-2. Islamabad failed to utilise power play as well as they could score only 26 in first 6 overs. But after that, Shafiq Khan blasted Peshawar bowling attack and played some lusty shots to gather 47-ball 74 runs with the help of 7 sixes. Ali Abbas added 17 and opener Adil Abbasi 15. Abdullah Afridi was pick of Peshawar bowlers as he claimed 3-17 while skipper Nehar Alam got 2-11 and Adeel Khan 1-24. Islamabad posted 139-9 in 20 overs.
Peshawar innings started with explosive opener Adeel Khan hitting a boundary on the very first ball. It looked like Peshawar would finish the game inside 15 overs, but left-arm spinner Waqaf Shah had other ideas as he took surprise wicket of Adeel. Wajid Alam and Izhar tried to restore calm in Peshawar camp, but things were fast slipping out of their hands, as first Izhar was given lbw by Sajjad and then Waqaf cleaned up Wajid, as Peshawar were teetering at 24-3 and all their hopes of reaching the finals and playing against Multan were soon in air.
After that, Sareer Ullah was bowled by Himmayat and then skipper Nehar Alam was also clean-bowled by Himmayat. Abdullah could score 18, Nehar 16 and Sareer 15. Waqaf, Kashif Nawaz and Himmayat altogether broke Peshawar batting powerhouses with their deadly bowling and restricted them to 97 in 16.5 overs. Waqaf grabbed 4-24, Kashif Nawaz 3-10 and Himmayat 2-15.
AIG Islamabad Farrukh Rasheed graced the occasion as chief guest while ICRC head of communication Najam-ul-Saqib and others were also present on the occasion. Waqaf and Shafiq were jointly declared players of the match and were awarded Rs 1000 cash each. The final will be held between Islamabad and Multan after PSL-3 in Karachi.