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KARACHI: International Rameez Raja Junior blasted a superb half century as National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) stunned holders Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) by six wickets in the 5th Naya Nazimabad Ramadan Cup T20 Cricket Tournament at Lawai Stadium on Sunday night.
Rameez, who once played Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan, hit an attacking 42-ball 60 with four cracking boundaries and three sixes as NBP romped home for the loss of four wickets with five balls to spare.
SNGPL captain Muhammad Rizwan – Pakistan discard, won the toss and elect to bat first. They recovered from 97-5 to post a competitive total of 163 for six wickets. Khurram Shahzad made a late recovery with a fighting unbeaten 36 off 20 balls laced with four boundaries and a massive six. Rizwan himself top-scored with a steady 41 after facing 38 deliveries with three fours and a six.
Asif Ali smashes brace of sixes in his 15-ball knock of 21 and Hussain Talat made 18 from 13 balls with three strikes to the ropes.
Former test left arm spinner Abdul Rehman bowled tightly for his two wickets for 16 runs in his four overs.
NBP lost opener Haris Ali for three and Ahsan Ali for 32 that included three fours and one six. But Rameez and Naveed Yasin added 88 runs for the third wicket. Naveed hit four 4s a and two sixes in his 28-ball 41. In the end NBP captain Bilal Asif batting in his customary aggressive fashion banged two sixes in 15 not out in five ball cameo to seal victory.
Rameez Raja won the man of the match for his dazzling knock – to give his team second win in as many matches. Chief Guest former ICC Test umpire Saleem Badar presented the award to Rameez.
In the other match, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) routed Brighto Paints by eight wickets.
Opener Sahibzada Farhan cracked an unbeaten 80 in 52 balls with eight 4s and three sixes following his 90 the other night. Israrullah made 44 not out in 23 balls that was laced three sixes and two fours.
Farhan and Israr shared an unbroken 87 runs stand for easy second win for their team. Sahibzada Farhan won his second consecutive man of the match award.
Earlier, Brighton Paints batting first raised 169 for the loss of nine wickets in their 20 overs.
Opener Bilal Shah hammered four sixes and two 4s in his 37 off 17 balls and fellow partner Usman Nazeer 36 with five 4s and one six. Lately Raees Butt hammered a brilliant 36 with six boundaries in 21 balls. Leg spinner Zahid Mehmood captured three wickets for 18 runs in economical spell of four wickets.
Summarized scores:
NBP bt SNGPL by six wickets.
SNGPL 163-6 in 20 overs (Muhammad Rizwan 41, Khurram Shehzad 36 not out, Asif Ali 21, Hussain Talat 18, Taimoor Sultan 15, Asad Ali 13, Iftikhar Ahmed 12, Abdul Rehman 2-16, Ghulam Mudassar 2-46) NBP 166-4 in 19.1 overs (Rameez Raja Jr. 60, Naveed Yasin 41, Ahsan Ali 32, Bilal Asif 15 not out, Raza Dar 11 not out, Imran Ali 2-20)
SBP bt Brighto Paints by eight wickets.
Brighto Paints 169-9 in 20 overs (Bilal Shah 37, Usman Nazeer 36, Raees Butt 36, Sabir Hussain 25, Zahid Mehmood 3-18, Mussudiq Ahmed 2-35) SBP 171-2 in 18.3 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 80 not out, Israrullah 44 not out, Mukhtar Ahmed 29, Ali