Shahzaib steers Karachi Dolphins to victory

LAHORE Shahzaib Hasan, on Friday night, made difficult target easy with his brisk 71 runs to ensure Karachi Dolphins to take on Lahore Loins in the final of the Faysal Bank Twenty20 Cup at 7 pm here at the Gaddafi Stadium. In a high-scoring second semi-final, Dolphins chased the big total of 210 for five wickets with seven balls to spare. Opener Shahzaib Hasans unbeaten 71 made the big total look slender. Rawalpindi Rams were enjoying their game and seemed all set to reach the finals but Dolphins batsmen took away the match bit by bit. Shahzaib managed his 50 in 38 balls with two fours and three sixes and reached his 71 in 51 balls. Babar Naeem (62) got his 50 in 29 balls with six fours and one six and enjoyed two partnerships with Naved Malik (32) and Umar Amin (44). Rams sensed that they had a roll coaster ride to the final after they went beyond 200 runs by the 18th over but Dolphins showed guts and maintained the run-rate with every passing ball and over. And by the time they finished 17th over, they completed 200 runs to have the match in their control. Shahzaib also produced 50 runs for the third-wicket with Fawad Alam (31) and later Shahid Afridi 38 off 12 balls and Sarfraz Ahmed 22 not out in 13 balls brought win for Dolphins. Sohail Khan was his brilliant best with the ball for Dolphins by taking three wickets for 27 runs. Azam Hussain and Shahid Afridi shared one wicket each. While from the losing side, Sohail Tanvir, Raza Hasan, Hammad Azam, Yasim Murtaza and Babar Naeem got the one wicket each. Karachi Dolphin won by five wickets. Man of the match: Shahzaib Hasan (Karachi Dolphins)

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