ISLAMABAD: Saad Baig’s unbeaten 72, backed by four wickets each from Shahnawaz Dahani and Jahandad Khan, led Karachi Region Blues to a 57-run consolation victory over Lahore Region Blues in the ABS Developers National T20 Cup at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar.
Both teams exhausted their chances of securing a semi-final. The Group B currently has Sialkot on top as they are followed by Multan, Abbottabad and Karachi Blues with all four teams incurring four points each, while Lahore Blues are winless with one match to go.
Sialkot, Multan and Abbottabad, all separated by net run-rate, will fight out for two semi-final berths on Monday (today). Karachi Blues cruised to a 57-run win over Lahore Blues after posting 206 for three in their 20 overs.
Ahsan Ali (39, 29b, 5x4s, 1x6) and Shah Raza Naqvi (30, 16b, 2x4s, 3x6s) provided Karachi Blues a brisk start, adding 51 runs inside the first five overs. After Raza fell in the sixth over, Usman Khan (21, 16b, 3x4s, 1x6) joined Ahsan and the pair put on 36 runs. Usman was dismissed in the 10th over with the score at 87 for two, while Ahsan’s departure in the 13th over left Karachi Blues at 117 for three.
Saad Baig then steered the latter half of the innings with a sparkling unbeaten 72 off 37 balls, striking seven fours and four sixes. He was well supported by Mohammad Usman Rahim (33 not out, 23b, 4x4s) as the two stitched an unbroken 89-run partnership to power their side to the second-highest total in the tournament.
For Lahore Blues, Mohammad Rizwan picked up 2-23, while Ali Razzaq also dismissed one batter. In reply, Lahore Blues were bowled out for 149 in 17.3 overs as they succumbed to the right and left-arm pace duo of Shahnawaz Dahani (3-0-24-4) and Jahandad Khan (3.3-0-25-4), who picked up four wickets each.
