Player of the match - Mohammad Usman Raheem (Karachi Region Blues)

©PCB

Karachi Blues and Islamabad made impressive starts in the National T20 Cup Qualifier, registering convincing victories on opening dayin Lahore. 

In the first game of the day, Karachi Blues won the toss and put Quetta in to bat first. Top-scorer Haseebullah (50 not out, 3x4s, 6x2s) and opening batter Syed Jahangir Shah (39, 5x4s, 1x6) shared a 49-run partnership for the second wicket to lift their side to a fighting 146-5.

No.6 batter Mohammad Junaid also chipped in with a 10-ball 18 hitting two sixes towards the end.

For Karachi Blues, Mohammad Fahad Ameen (3-0-31-2) picked up two wickets while Wahaj Riaz (1-24), Zeeshan Zameer (1-24) and Mohammad Raza Chandio (1-26) bagged one wicket apiece.

In response, Karachi Blues slipped to 62-4 in 9.3 overs after being 43-1 in 6.4 overs. Number three batter Mohammad Taha stuck around for a handy 43 off 29 balls including seven fours and one six.

Player of the match Muhammad Usman Raheem top-scored with an unbeaten 55 off 40 balls, hitting seven fours and one six. Blues, who needed 18 off the last two overs, were aided by Raza Chandio’s cameo of 11 off four balls, featuring one four and one six, sealing the victory with four balls and as many wickets remaining.

In the second game, Larkana won the toss and put Islamabad in to bat first, who lost opening batter Ali Imran (3, 5b) in the third over as the scoreboard read 18-1 after 2.2 overs.

Raja Hamza Waheed (40, 27b, 3x4s, 3x6s) then shared a 67-run alliance with skipper Muhammad Umair Riaz, who top-scored with unbeaten 73 off 50 balls, hitting eight fours and one six.

Umair also shared an unbeaten 115-run partnership with number five batter Rizwan Ali who also contributed a quick-fire 68 not out off 36 balls, aided by nine fours and one six as Islamabad posted 207-3 in their 20 overs. Larkana’s skipper Zahid Mehmood picked up one for 27 in his four overs.

In reply, Larkana started swiftly, fetching 20 runs off the first two overs. However, their advance was cut short as Umair Afridi removed opening batter Aqeel Danish (3, 7b).

Top-scorer Malhar Rasool contributed 56 off 40 balls, striking four fours and three sixes, but his effort went in vain as only two other batters reached double figures and Larkana were bowled out for 129 in 17.4 overs, falling 78 runs short. No.4 batter Sabit Ali was retired hurt as Larkana lost eight for 56.

Left-arm pacer Umair Afridi led Islamabad attack from front with 3-29 in 3.4 overs, while spinners Arsal (4-0-14-2) and Farman Ullah (4-0-24-2) shared four wickets between them.

Player of the match - Muhammad Umair Riaz (Islamabad)

©PCB

Scores in brief:

Match 1 – Karachi Region Blues beat Quetta Region by four wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Quetta Region 146-5, 20 overs (Haseebullah 50 not out, Syed Jahangir Shah 39; Muhammad Fahad Ameen 2-31)

Karachi Region Blues 150-6, 19.2 overs (Mohammad Usman Raheem 55 not out, Mohammad Taha 43; Mohammad Ibrahim 2-25)

Player of the match - Mohammad Usman Raheem (Karachi Region Blues)

Match 2 – Islamabad Region beat Larkana Region by 78 runs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Islamabad Region 207-3, 20 overs (Muhammad Umair Riaz 73 not out, Rizwan Ali 68 not out, Raja Hamza Waheed 40; Zahid Mehmood 1-27)

Larkana Region 129 all out, 17.4 overs (Malhar Rasool 56; Umair Afridi 3-29, Muhammad Arsal Shaikh 2-14, Farman Ullah 2-24)

Player of the match - Muhammad Umair Riaz (Islamabad)