Superb bowling performance by Hammad Azam guided Rawalpindi Rams to reach the semi-final of the Faysal Bank National T20 Cricket Tournament, after beating five-time champions Sialkot Stallions by 13 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday.
-- Shoaib Akhtar grabs 4 wickets
The Rawalpindi Rams were looking at the brink of defeat, as the Sialkot Stallions, who are defending their title for the sixth time, were going well while chasing a big target of 197, with the total of 156 for three in the 15th over on the board. But a sudden collapse, reduced them to 184 for seven, before the allotted overs were completed.
After getting a brilliant start of 72 in just 5.2 overs from openers Imran Nazir (45, 15 balls, five sixes, three fours) and Tahir Mughal (46, 31 balls, seven fours, one six), the Stallions were looking close to an easy win. But their captain Shoaib Malik, his brother Adeel Malik and Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan played reckless shots as they failed to maintain the run flow and their innings was restricted to 184-7 in 20 overs.
Batting first, Rams were served by Naved Malik (41, five fours two sixes), Awais Zia (47, six fours, three sixes), man-of-the-match Hammad (37, four fours, one six) and Naved Ashraf (34, three fours, one six) to earn an imposing total of 198.
In another match, four wickets haul by Shoaib Akhtar steered Islamabad Leopards to earn an impressive nine-wicket win against Faisalabad Wolves to also make the last four.
Shoaib returned the figure of four for 20, as Wolves could collect a meagre total of 141 for eight in the allotted overs, with only Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq made significant contribution of 32 balls 47 with four fours and two sixes. Khurram Shahzad (33, five fours) was the only other notable scorer. Shoaib had put the Wolves in trouble from the beginning, sending back top three batsmen Asif Hussain, Mohammad Hafeez, and Ali Waqas all for duck.
Islamabad raced to the target scoring 142 for the loss of one wicket in 17.2 overs, thank to opener Raheel Majeed (69, nine fours, one six) and Umair Khan (35, three sixes, two fours). Summarised scores: Islamabad Leopards beat Faisalabad Wolves by nine wickets. Faisalabad Wolves 141-8 in 20 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 47, Khurram Shehzad 33, Naved Latif 23; Shoaib Akhtar 4-20).
Islamabad Leopards 142-1 in 17.2 overs (Raheel Majeed 69 not out Umair Khan 35). Rawalpindi Rams bt Sialkot Stallions by 13 runs. Rams: 197-8 in 20 overs (Naved Malik 41, Awaiz Zia 47, Hammad Azam 37 (Rana Navid 2-25). Stallions: 184-7 in 20 overs (Imran Nazir 45, Tahir Mughal 46, Haris Sohail 33, Shoaib Malik 32 (Hammad Azam 4-50).