National Twenty20 Cup: Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues pick up close wins

Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues picked up close wins in the National Twenty20 Cup. Karachi Whites were able to restrict Lahore Blues 6 runs short of the set target, while Lahore Blues chased down 130 in 19.3 overs against Multan.

Thanks to a fluent opening partnership between Khurram Manzoor and Awais Zia, Karachi Whites reached 145 for 6. Khurram scored yet another 50 while, the left handed Zia supported him well with 30. Shoiab Malik and Fawad Alam, both stuck 24, but they couldn’t accelerate the run rate. Neither could the following batsman. Islamabad United all-rounder Amad Butt picked up 3 wickets, while Umaid Asif got rid of two Karachi Whites batsmen.

In response, Lahore Whites were off to a poor start as Shoaib Malik picked up their young opener Umar Siddiq. Salman Butt and Zeeshan Ashraf built the innings slowly. However, they couldn’t prolong their innings. The middle order collapsed. However, Ali Khan and Wahab Riaz took the game close. However, Arshad Iqbal bowled a decent last over and took his team to victory. Shoiab Malik, took both openers, while captain Mohammad Sami delivered a miserly spell.

In the 2^nd game of the day, Multan battled throughout their 20 overs and reached 129. Opener Hasan Raza top scored with 46. No other batsmen crossed 19. Captain Saad Nasim, got a brace with the ball. For Lahore Blues young Rizwan Hussain smashed another 50. While, he batted Lahore Blues looked set to reach the target. However, wickets by leg spinner Mohammad Irfan and Aamir Yamin, took the game close. Mohammad Irfan bowled a tight spell against Saad Nasim, before letting it go with a beamer. Nasim, hit the free hit to the boundary and eased the pressure, giving Lahore the opening they required. Agha Salman, took his team home in the final over.