Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: A whirlwind half-century from Ahmad Shahzad helped Lahore Blues to a thrilling three-run win over Peshawar in the National Twenty20 Cup at Pindi Stadium here Saturday. Shahzad, who has recently struggled for form in a Pakistan shirt, scored 50 off 22 balls to get his side off to a flying start. Hussain Talat and Mohammad Hafeez scored 37 and 30 respectively as the Blues amassed an intimidating 173 by the halfway mark. It might have been higher but for an excellent spell from fast bowler Waqas Maqsood, who took 3 for 23 in four overs.

Peshawar, in response, hurtled to 81 inside seven overs, thanks to 41-year old Rafatullah Mohmand, who scored 40 off 25 balls. Having pushed ahead of the asking rate, it looked as if they might pull off a spectacular win. Naved Yasin was in the zone as well, finishing unbeaten on 62 off 44. But wickets continued to tumble from the other end as tailenders failed to provide adequate support, and in the end Lahore Blues bowled them out with a ball to spare, and three runs still in the bag.

The day’s second game continued the sequence of exciting matches in this year’s tournament, with Islamabad sneaking home to victory over Faisalabad in the final ball of the contest. Mohammad Irfan was the unlikely hero in the end, coming to the crease with his side needing three off the last two balls. Irfan collected two off the penultimate delivery to level the scores, before settling the game with a single off the last ball. Faisalabad had accumulated 170 on the back of a handful of useful contributions, most notably 43 from Sahibzada Farhan. Sohaib Maqsood (38 off 22) and Khurram Shehzad (37 off 17) upped the scoring rate, even as Adil Amin constantly dealt blows to Faisalabad with figures of 4 for 27.

Saad Ali, who has been the leading run-scorer in this year’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy by a distance, anchored the chase with 52, after Shan Masood’s brisk 32 at the top of the order. Gallant bowling performances from Taj Wali and Pakistan international Yasir Shah kept Faisalabad in the contest, before Irfan hauled them to victory in a tense finish.

Published in Daily Times, November 19^th 2017.