Round-up of the Faysal Bank T-20 Cup games on December 3, 2012

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2012
ScorecardCrucial knocks by lower-order batsmen repaired Bahawalpur Stag’s chase and took them to a close two-wicket win against Karachi Dolphins in Lahore. Bahawalpur had lost half their side for 86 in the 14th over, needing 67 more runs to win at more than 11 runs per over. But Kamran Hussain, Usman Tariq and Moinuddin together scored 50 runs in 31 deliveries to help their side get to the target in the last over. Seamer Tanvir Ahmed was the most expensive bowler, giving away 41 runs in his four overs.Karachi’ innings was based on productive contributions by wicketkeeper Amin-ur-Rehman and Fawad Alam, who scored 44 and 43 respectively. After an aggressive stand of 51 runs in five overs that laid the foundation for a strong total, Karachi suffered a minor collapse. But Fawad Alam and Khalid Latif steadied their innings. The final total of 152 wasn’t out of reach of their opponents.
ScorecardSialkot Stallions captain Shoaib Malik led the chase of a below-par target and completed an eight-wicket victory against Karachi Zebras at the Gaddafi Stadium. All of the Karachi top-five batsmen made starts but no one carried on. Daniyal Ahsan’s unbeaten 24 was the top score as Adeel Malik claimed 3 for 19 to restrict Karachi to 111 for 5.After Sialkot lost their openers, Haris Sohail anchored the innings with 34 off 44 balls, while Shoaib Malik blasted 50 off 31. The target was achieved with 20 balls to spare.
ScorecardIn another tight battle, Abbottabad Falcons defeated Islamabad Leopards by two wickets, helped by captain Younis Khan’s responsible knock of 38. The low-scoring match seemed to be heading Islamabad’s way after fast bowler Umar Gul had helped them reduce Abbottabad to 105 for 8, but in the company of Junaid Khan, Younis took them to the target of 120 with one ball to spare.Abbottabad were in control of their chase at 83 for 2, but Mir Azam’s wicket triggered a collapse as they lost six wickets for 22 runs to be in trouble, before the recovery by Younis. Azam, with a quick 59, scored a run less than half of the team’s total.Islamabad had similarly slipped against their opponent’s bowling to post 116 for 8. Middle-order batsman Imad Wasim put up a resistance with 45, but couldn’t string more than two productive partnerships. Left-arm spinner Amjad Waqas took three wickets.
ScorecardThe contest between Lahore Eagles and Peshawar Panthers wasn’t so evenly matched as Peshawar were restricted to 86 for 8 to lose by 76 runs at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Four batsmen scored in double digits, and opener Israrullah top-scored with 22. A fourth-wicket partnership of 25 runs was the highest Peshawar could muster. It was a combined effective bowling effort from Lahore as no bowler went wicketless.Lahore, after being put in to bat, started with a brisk 43-run opening stand in four overs. Imran Farhat, who scored 68 off 45 deliveries, was the bedrock of the strong total. At 150 for 3, they lost six wickets for 12 runs at the end of the innings.
ScorecardFaisalabad Wolves achieved an authoritative victory by eight wickets against Hyderabad Hawks. Their bowlers restricted Hyderabad to 97 for 8, and opener Farrukh Shehzad and Naved Latif then put on 74 runs together to chase the target down with 23 balls to spare. Shehzad won his second successive man-of-the-match award.After choosing to bat, Hyderabad suffered a shaky start as the top three batsmen in their line-up fell cheaply. They had lost half their side for 50 in the 13th over. Although No. 4 Rizwan Ahmed struck a 41-run stand for the sixth wicket Mir Ali, the latter’s dismissal in the 18th over caused a collapse, as Hyderabad limped to 97 or 8.
ScorecardHalf-centuries from Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal drove Lahore Lions to a commanding total of 182, by the weight of which they crushed Multan Tigers by 30 runs. Although Multan were in the hunt in their chase till the penultimate over, their hopes had been diminished once set batsmen Gulraiz Sadaf and Saeed Anwar jnr were dismissed.Lahore, from the outset, were in control of their innings. After a couple of partnerships of more than 50 runs each, Shehzad and Umar added a further 50 runs in 3.4 overs, with Umar smashing 55 off 21 deliveries. The late acceleration pushed them to a run rate of over nine runs per over, and it ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides. Seamer Mohammad Irfan, who took 3 for 8 in his previous game, conceded 47 in his four overs.