Karachi Blues, Multan march into National T20 Cup semis

KARACHI: Karachi Blues and Multan blasted their way into the semi-finals with contrasting victories in their respective group matches of National T20 Cup on Saturday.
Karachi Blues romped to their fourth successive win when they put Lahore Whites out of the event with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over them.
Meanwhile, Multan conquered Karachi Whites by just three runs to move into the last four.
In Group B outing at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad, Khurram Manzoor hit a dazzling 81 off 44 balls to enable Karachi Blues achieve 180-run target with 14 balls to spare after losing three wickets.
Khurram, who struck 16 fours in his second successive fifty, added 94 for the opening stand with Shahzaib Hasan who clobbered a rapid 24-ball 45 with three sixes and four fours. Asad Shafiq contributed 24-ball 36 with four fours.
Aizaz Cheema (1-37), Saad Nasim (1-33) and Azhar Ali (1-24) were the successful bowlers.
After being invited to bat, Umar Akmal (52) finally clicked with a sparkling fifty to guide Lahore Whites to 179-7.
Umar added 77 for the fifth wicket association with Saad Nasim who belted 24-ball 35 with two sixes and two fours.
Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad set the tone with an explosive 16-ball 40 which had six fours and two sixes to provide a quick start to Lahore.
He dominated the 52-run opening partnership with his skipper Azhar Ali (20) who hit two fours from 22 balls.
Left-arm paceman Rumman Raees once again lived up to the billing with 3-26 from four overs.
He was ably backed by Abdul Ameer (2-39) and Shahid Afridi (2-33). Karachi Blues ensured their semi-finals spot with eight points with a game against Peshawar yet in hand. This was the third loss for Lahore Whites from four matches.
In Group A clash at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi, Kamran Akmal (105) led from the front with maiden ton of his T20 career to help Multan pile up 185-4 against Karachi Whites.
Kamran smashed 12 fours and four sixes from 57 deliveries. He added 64 for the second wicket with Sohaib Maqsood (26) and 68 for the third wicket with left-handed Naved Yasin (32) to take his side to a fighting total.
Mir Hamza, Tabish Khan, Tariq Haroon and Saud Shakeel claimed one wicket each. In response, Karachi Whites were restricted to 182-4.
In the last over from Aamir Yamin Karachi Whites needed eight to win but they could manage only four from that to lose their third game in four appearances.
Shaharyar Ghani struck a rapid unbeaten 38-ball 64 with seven fours and two sixes. He added 82 for the third wicket with skipper Faisal Iqbal who belted 24-ball 30 with two fours and a six.
Ramiz Raja (46) and Ahsan Ali (23) provided a solid opening stand of 68 off 44 deliveries.
Test pacer Rahat Ali picked 2-26 in four overs. Aamir Yamin (1-40) and Zulfiqar Babar (1-27) were the other successful bowlers.
In a vital Group B outing, Karachi-groomed Fakhar Zaman (100*) hit his first hundred of his T20 career to enable Abbottabad beat holders Peshawar by seven wickets to stay alive.
Fakhar smacked 11 fours and three sixes in his gritty 62-ball unfinished knock to enable Abbottabad chase 196-run target with three balls to spare.
Sohail Akhtar struck a quick-fire 15-ball 30 which featured two sixes and two fours. Yasir Hameed belted 21-ball 29 with six fours.
Imran Khan, Zohaib Khan, Adil Amin and Imran Junior claimed one wicket each.
Iftikhar Ahmed hammered his career-best 90 not out to steer Peshawar to 195-4.
Iftikhar, who hit his second successive fifty, struck six sixes and four fours in his 55-ball feat.
Adil Amin (33) and Mohammad Rizwan (30) also supported him. Test seamer Junaid Khan clinched 2-23 from four overs.
In Group B clash at the Pindi Stadium, Islamabad ultimately opened their account when they defeated Faisalabad by eight wickets.
Afaq Rahim belted unbeaten 49-ball 70 with 11 fours as Islamabad chased the 159-run target with 12 balls to spare after losing two wickets.
Afaq put on 51 for the opening stand with Shan Masood (30) and 98 for the second wicket with Babar Azam who hit 37-ball 38 with five fours.
Imran Khalid and Raheel Ameer got one wicket each.
Earlier, Khurram Shehzad blasted 38-ball 47 with three fours and two sixes to catapult Faisalabad to 158-8.
Raheel Ameer (41) hit seven fours and a six from 30 balls. Skipper Misbah-ul-Hq smashed three sixes in his 21-ball 31.
Shehzad Azam (2-33) and Muni-ur-Rehman (2-19) bowled well. In Group B show on Friday night, Karachi Blues survived a scare when they defeated Islamabad by one wicket.
Chasing 177, Karachi Blues needed five off the last over when Anwar Ali (21) hit Zohaib Ahmed for a glorious six off the fifth ball to bring in a much needed win. Anwar struck two sixes in his productive 11-ball knock.
Khurram Manzoor (62) and Fawad Alam (33) shared valuable 60 for the third wicket to consolidate Karachi Blues innings.
Shahid Afridi then struck 12-ball 16 with one six and a four. After Afridi’s fall Karachi Blues lost a few quick wickets before Anwar Ali took their sinking ship to shore with a solid hit.
Imad Wasim picked 3-26 from four overs. Shehzad Azam claimed 2-30.
Shahid Yousuf (57) and Babar Azam (43) shared 93 off 64 balls for the third wicket to enable Islamabad stage 176-6.
Rumman Raees claimed 2-32. Anwar Ali (1-33) and Shahid Afridi (1-36) were the other successful bowlers.