Sohail shines in Dollar East 2nd win in Naya Nazimabad Ramadan Cup

KARACHI:  Former Champions Dollar East took a step forward for the place in knock out stage of the 5th Naya Nazimabad Ramadan Cup T20 Cricket Tournament when they beat Pakistan Customs by 25 runs on Saturday night.

        All-rounder Sohail Akhtar starred in their team’s victory with an attacking batting and bowling performance. Sohail smashed four sixes in 33 off 18 balls and grabbed two wickets for 17 runs to take Rs.5000 man of the match award at picturesque Lawai Stadium.

          Batting first, Dollar East collected 158 for the loss of seven wickets in their 20 overs.  Rejected Pakistan opener Khurram Manzoor got 29 in 36 balls with two fours and Rameez Aziz lifted two sixes in his 18-ball knock of 26.  Faheem Ahmed captured three wickets for 27 runs and Hasan Mahmood got 2 for 25.

     Fahad Babar slammed a brilliant 61 off 48 balls with seven sizzling boundaries and one six. But his effort went in vain. Besides Sohail Akhtar’s two wickets,  Usman Qadir took two wickets for 24 runs.

    In another match, Civil Avitation Authority (CAA) created a stir when they down K.Electric by three wickets.

    Opener Muhammad Afzal was architect of his team’s triumph with a hurricane batting display. He banged 58 runs after facing just 24 balls and it included seven hits to the boundary and three over it. Afzal was declared man of the match.

Spinners’ duo of Azam Khan and Ashar Qureshi shared wickets between them as K.Electric was bowled out for 135 with three balls of 20 overs remaining. Salman Ali Agha made 42 in 34 balls with three boundaries and two sixes and Zeeshan Malik struck four boundaries in his 39.

         CAA in reply coasted to victory for the loss of seven wickets, scoring 139-7 in 18 overs thanks to Afzal’s aggressive half century.  Azam Khan scored an unbeaten 19 in 13 balls with two boundaries and one six. Hassan Khan took three wickets 21 run.

          Summarized scores:

Dollar East bt Customs by 25 runs

Dolar East 158-7 in 20 overs  (Sohail Akhtar 33, Khurram Manzoor 29, Rameez Azi 26,  Faheem Ahmed 3-27m Hasan Mahmood 2-25) Customs 133-7 in  20 overs ( Fahad Babar 61,  Saad Khan 16, Hasnain Rizvi 13 not out,  Akbar Babar 10, Sohail Akhtar 2-17, Usman Qadir 2-24).

CAA bt K.Electric by  three wickets.

KE 135 all out in 19.3 overs (Salman Ali Agha 41, Zeeshan Malik 39, Faraz Ahmed Khan 14, Imtiaz Leghari 13,  Azam Khan 3-22,  Ashar Qureshi 3-18) CAA 139-7 in 18 overs (Muhammad Afzal 58, Muhammad Taha 21, Azam Khan 19 not out,  Fahhadis Bukhari 18,  Hassan Khan 3-21, Salman Agha 2-24).