Shoaib stuns WAPDA

KARACHI: Faisal Athar and Shoaib Laghari blasted fine fifties to guide Hyderabad Hawks to a seven-wicket triumph over WAPDA in their opener of the triangular stage of the President’s Silver Cup One-day Tournament at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Wednesday.
Discarded international Faisal slammed unbeaten 78-ball 68, while Shoaib hammered an explosive 39-ball 55 not out to enable Hawks to achieve the 213-run target with 14 balls to spare after losing only three wickets.
Earlier, young pacer Babar Khan got 3-40 from nine overs to restrict WAPDA to 212-8 in the allotted 43 overs.
Chasing a relatively stiff target on the pitch which had bounce and seam, Hawks had to struggle hard for meeting the required run-rate. At one stage, they were 104-3 in 29 overs, needing around eight runs per over.
But in the batting power-play Shoaib and Faisal displayed some lusty hitting, plundering 48 runs from 24 balls to take their team home.
The duo shared 110 runs for the fourth wicket unbroken stand. Shoaib, who was particularly ruthless, smashed three sixes and three fours in his quick-fire knock. He hit left-arm paceman Waqas Maqsood for a massive six over long-off to complete his superb half century.
Faisal, who has smashed two centuries in the competitions, smacked eight fours and a six from 78 deliveries. Faisal was also involved in a 54-run third wicket stand with his skipper Azeem Ghumman, who scored a patient 64-ball 32 with two fours before being removed by left-arm spinner Khalid Usman.
It was a well-pitched delivery, which Ghumman tried to hit over mid-wicket but only managed to sky it and Mohammad Ali took an easy catch at the third-man position.
After sturdy paceman Mohammad Ali got rid of Haris Khan (2), Zeeshan Gul (37) added 38 runs for the second wicket with Ghumman.
Gul needlessly ran himself out when he was sent back by his skipper while taking a risky single.
Gul, who was dropped by Aamir Sajjad in the slip off Rana

Naved-ul-Hasan, hammered five fours from 45 deliveries.
Mohammad Ali was fairly impressive with the ball, taking 1-25 from nine overs. Left-arm spinner Khalid Usman picked 1-39 from seven overs.
Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who bowled well except in two overs in the power-play, conceded 49 runs from nine overs.
After being invited to bat first, WAPDA battled all the way before posting the modest total.
Babar Khan got rid of openers Mohammad Fayyaz (10) and Iftikhar Ahmad (5), while Mir Ali removed Adnan Raees (1).
Rafatullah Mohmand (26) and Aamir Sajjad (39) added 44 runs for the fourth wicket to bring some stability to their innings. But both fell in quick succession to leave WAPDA at 101-5.
Rafat smashed three fours from 56 balls. Aamir banged five fours from 50 deliveries.
Rana Naved (31) and left-hander Ayaz Tasawwar (40) put on 50 runs for the sixth wicket to consolidate the innings.
Rana, who was trapped lbw by spinner Nasir Awais, hit one four and a six from 47 balls. Ayaz smashed four fours from 49 deliveries.
Zulfiqar Babar smashed a rapid 14-ball 26 with two fours and a six and Khalid Usman hammered 13-ball 19 with two fours.
Babar was ably backed by Mir Ali (2-30) and Nasir Awais (2-45).
The game started one hour late because of water on the ground. The match was reduced to 43 overs a side.
On Thursday (today), Hawks will face Faisalabad Wolves at the same venue.
Score Board
Hyderabad Hawks won toss
WAPDA
M Fayyaz lbw b Babar 10
Iftikhar b Babar 5
†Rafatullah c Zeeshan b Mir 26
Adnan c Sadam b Mir 1
Aamer lbw b Lal 39
*Naved lbw b Nasir 31
Ayaz c Azeem b Babar 40
Khalid c & b Nasir 19
Zulfiqar not out 26
Waqas not out 0
Extras (lb 2, w 11, nb 2) 15
Total (8 wickets; 43 overs) 212
Did not bat: Ali
Fall: 1-11, 2-29, 3-32, 4-76, 5-101, 6-151, 7-179, 8-197
Bowling: Mir 9-1-30-2 (3w); Babar 9-0-40-3 (2nb, 2w); Nasir 9-0-45-2; Lal 8-0-43-1 (3w); Shoaib 6-0-37-0 (2w); Haris 1-0-6-0; Sadam 1-0-9-0 (1w)
Hyderabad Hawks
Haris c Rafatullah b Ali 2
Zeeshan run out 37
*Azeem c Ali b Khalid 32
Faisal not out 68
Shoaib not out 55
Extras (b 8, lb 5, w 6, nb 1) 20
Total (3 wickets; 40.4 overs) 214
Did not bat: †M Awais, N Awais, Babar, Mir, Lal, Sadam
Fall: 1-12, 2-50, 3-104
Bowling: Ali 9-1-25-1; Naved 9-1-49-0 (6w); Zulfiqar 8-0-37-0; Waqas 7.4-0-51-0 (1nb); Khalid 7-0-39-1
Result: Hyderabad Hawks won by 7 wickets
Points: Hyderabad Hawks 2, WAPDA 0
Umpires: Asif Yaqoob and Zameer Haider