Larkana, Lahore Blues reign supreme

KARACHI: Asif Babar slammed an explosive unbeaten fifty to guide Larkana Region to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Quetta Region in their Group A opener of the National T20 Cup qualifiers in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
The Shikarpur-born youngster smashed 74 not out off just 37 balls to enable Larkana reach the 142-run target with 21 balls to spare after losing three wickets.
Asif, who came at number two, made Larkana’s chase easier with his ruthless hitting as the right-hander scored his fifty off only 25 balls. He scored 21 runs off spinner Mohammad Irfan in the final over that turned the game towards Larkana. He hit five sixes and six fours in his magnificent knock.
Earlier, Javed Bhutto (27) and Zafar Ali (17) gave a solid 39 runs opening stand to Larkana. Javed struck four fours from 30 deliveries while Zafar cracked two fours in his 19-ball feat.
Medium-pacer Sher Hassan, Mohamamd Irfan and Jalat Khan took one wicket each.
After opting to bat, stumper Bismillah Khan (79*) single-handedly guided Quetta to 141-4 in the allotted 20 overs.
Bismillah hit eight fours and a six in his fine 56-ball knock. He with his skipper Jalat Khan (17*) in the end plundered 47 runs from 31 balls for the fifth wicket unbeaten stand.
Jalat’s 15-ball innings featured three fours.
Ali Asghar was the pick of the bowlers with 2-23. Zahid Mehmood and Imran Chandio claimed one wicket each.
Larkana’s skipper Zahid Mehmood said they worked hard.
“We worked hard in all departments. Asif played an outstanding innings that turned the game in our favour,” Zahid said.
“As the ball was turning so I opted to use an extra spinner and that worked,” Zahid added.
Quetta’s captain Jalat Khan said they should have scored more runs.
“We were around 30 runs short,” Jalat said.
“Bismillah batted well but he was not supported by any one,” the allrounder said. “We would try to do well in the middle order in the coming matches which we will need to win,” he said.
Asif Babar was declared man-of-the-match.
Meanwhile, Lahore Blues began their journey with a bang when they crushed minnows Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) by 82 runs in their Group A game.
Mohammad Akhlaq (51) and Imam-ul-Haq (45) batted with perfection to enable Lahore Blues post 151-4 after opting to bat first on the track which offered assistance to pacemen in the start.
Akhlaq hit two fours and three sixes in his fiery 32-ball knock. Imam, the nephew of former Pakistan’s captain Izamam-ul-Haq, smashed four fours from 40 deliveries. Sami Aslam made run-a-ball 30 with four fours.
Saad Altaf, Irfan Talib and Usman got one wicket each.
Salman Agha (3-17) bowled well to enable Lahore Blues to dismiss AJK for only 69 in 14.4 overs. Irfan Talib (22) and left-handed Hasan Reza (15) were the prominent scorers. Agha was ably supported by international pacer Zia-ul-Haq (2-11) and Ataullah (2-16).
Till filing of the story, Karachi Blues were 66-3 in 10.1 overs against FATA in their Group B opener.