RAWALPINDI: Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt continued to shake off a wretched Quaid-e-Azam Trophy campaign as his second unbeaten half-century in three games helped Lahore Whites trounce Peshawar by 27 runs in the National Twenty20 Cup at Pindi Cricket Stadium here Tuesday. Salman’s 58-ball 85 took his side to the top of the standings. His fellow opener Kamran Akmal also joined in to make a 40-ball 52 as the Whites notched up 163. In response, the struggling Peshawar – who now have one win in six matches – could not find a single batsman to score over 25. That meant the chase never really took off. Lahore’s bowlers picked them off at ease with Umaid Asif starring with four for 26 to break the back of the Peshawar chase. Ehsan Adil and Asif Ali took two wickets apiece as Peshawar were cleaned up for 136, with their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals officially extinguished. With his scintillating half ton, out-of-favour wicket-keeper batsman Kamran also became the first ever Pakistan cricketer to score four consecutive 50s in T20 innings. The 35-year-old batsman smashed three sixes and stroked four boundaries to score 52 off 40 deliveries, his 4th half-century in four consecutive innings of the National T20 Tournament. Kamran, representing Lahore Whites, had earlier scored 65 against Rawalpindi, 63 against FATA and 52 against Karachi Whites. The knock on Tuesday made him the first Pakistan cricketer to score four consecutive fifties in four consecutive innings, jointly the second largest streak of consecutive T20 50s. Kamran joined 15 other batsmen from around the world who have scored four consecutive 50s, and is just one short of the record of five consecutive fifties, jointly held by India’s Virender Sehwag and Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza. Kamran last played for Pakistan during the tour to West Indies earlier this year, after making a comeback to the side, however, he couldn’t impress the selectors with his comeback and was not retained for the ICC Champions Trophy. He has played 53 Tests, 157 ODIs and 58 T20Is for Pakistan since making his international debut in 2002. Published in Daily Times, November 22nd 2017.