Khalid sizzles as Karachi Blues tame Abbottabad in T20 Cup

KARACHI: Star-studded Karachi Blues began their quest for a T20 crown with a seven-wicket win over Abbottabad while Hyderabad inflicted an eight-wicket upset defeat on Kamran Akmal-led Multan on the opening day of the National T20 Cup main round in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Mukhtar Ahmed hit his career-best 123 to guide six-time champions Sialkot to a seven-run victory over Karachi Whites and Lahore Whites defeated Islamabad by three wickets in a nail-biter.
At the Marghzar Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Khalid Latif hit splendid unbeaten 65 to enable Karachi Blues to chase the 154-run target set for them by Abbottabad with 20 balls to spare, losing three wickets in the process.
After the early fall of Khurram Manzoor (5), Khalid, who hit four sixes and six fours from 36 balls, added 54 for the second wicket with Shahzaib Hasan, who struck 20-ball 36 with five fours and two sixes.
Khalid accumulated 90 runs for the fourth wicket unbroken stand with Fawad Alam (45*), who smacked six fours and a six from 31 deliveries to take their team home in their Group B outing.
Ahmed Jamal (1-24), Yasir Shah (1-34) and Kamran Ghulam (1-30) were the successful bowlers.
After losing two wickets for just one run, Younis Khan (51) hit a smart fifty to guide Abbottabad to 153-8.
Younis, who struck three sixes and five fours from 34 deliveries, added 78 for the third wicket with Sajjad Ali who belted 31-ball 36 with five fours.
Left-handed pinch-hitter Adnan Raees (30) struck two sixes and one four from 23 balls. Sohail Akhtar made 13-ball 21 with two sixes and one four.
Mohammad Sami got 2-24 from four overs and left-arm pacer Rumman Raees claimed 2-33 from four.
Khalid was adjudged man of the match.
In a Group B game at the same venue, skipper Sharjeel Khan led from the front with an explosive 91 as Hyderabad got the 187-run target set for them by Mlutan with eight balls to spare, losing just two wickets.
Sharjeel smashed 13 fours and four sixes from 45 deliveries. The left-handed international opener added 92 runs for the second wicket with Faisal Athar, who struck unbeaten 41-ball 56 with six fours. Faisal put on 68 for the third wicket unbroken association with Lal Kumar (23), who hit one six and two fours from 15 balls.
Majid Ali claimed 1-30 and Zain Abbas picked 1-32.
Earlier, Sohaib Maqsood proved his fitness and form when he banged fine 77 off 50 balls to enable Multan to pile up 186-4 in the allotted overs.
Sohaib, who has remained out of the national team for some time because of fitness issues, cracked three sixes and ten glorious fours. After the early departure of skipper Kamran Akmal (4), Imran Farhat (13) and Zain Abbas (6), Sohaib added 109 for the fourth wicket with Naved Yasin, who hammered unbeaten 31-ball 55.
Naved, who struck three sixes and four fours in his spectacular fifty, added 45 for the fifth wicket with Kashif Naved (26*) to set a fighting target for Hyderabad. Kashif struck one four and one six from 13 balls.
Nasir Awais got 2-33 and Nauman Ali claimed 1-39. Sharjeel was declared man of the match.
In a Group A show at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, Mukhtar Ahmed scored the second hundred of his career to help Sialkot secure a seven-run victory over Karachi Whites in a thrilling encounter.
Mukhtar, who hit 18 fours and three sixes in his 67-ball 123, made 125 off 73 balls for the opening stand with Nauman Anwar (51) to guide Sialkot to 198-5.
Nauman smashed seven fours and a six from 34 deliveries.
Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza got 2-30. Babar Rehman (1-46) and Tariq Haroon (1-37) were the other successful bowlers.
In reply, Ehsan Ali’s (76) solid innings went in vain as Karachi Whites were restricted to 191-6.
Ehsan shared 82 off 54 balls for the fourth wicket with Saifullah Bangash, who belted 28-ball 34 with three fours.
Karachi Whites needed 30 to win in the last over and Tariq Haroon (32*) scored 22 runs by hitting young fast bowler Ammad Butt for two sixes and two fours, but it was not enough.
Left-arm spinner Sultan Ahmed (2-26) and Bilawal Bhatti (2-24) bowled tightly.
Mukhtar was named man of the match.
In a Group A outing at the Pindi Stadium, Lahore Whites survived a scare when they defeated Islamabad by three wickets.
Chasing 169, Lahore Whites required 11 runs off the last over from Shehzad Azam (3-38). Saad Nasim (28*), who got a lifeline during the over through a dropped catch, scored these runs by hitting a couple of fine fours.
Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad set the tone with a mighty 23-ball 48 which featured seven fours and two sixes.
Mohammad Hafeez hit 29-ball 34 with one six and two fours, while Umar Akmal made 22-ball 21 with one four. Zohaib Ahmed claimed 2-29.
On Wednesday (today), Sialkot will face Hyderabad, Lahore Whites will meet Abbottabad, Karachi Whites will be pitted against Bahawalpur, holders Peshawar will meet Faisalabad and Multan will lock horns with Rawalpindi.