KARACHI: It was quite a mismatch when Quetta Bears came up against the star-laden Karachi Dolphins for Friday’s last match of the Bank alBaraka presents Haier T20 Cup here at the National Stadium.

Two brilliant innings from Asad Shafiq and Fawad Alam and a typical Shahid Afridi cameo spurred the Dolphins to the highest total thus far of the ongoing tournament. Set to score at almost close to 10 an over was always going to be beyond reach of any side let alone the Bears as the favourites ran out comprehensive winners by 86 runs under lights.

Choosing to bat first was a popular decision when Afridi won the toss in this Group ‘A’ clash. The loss of openers, Rameez Raja and Shahzaib Hasan, as well as Faisal Iqbal by the time the score reached 39 in the fifth over was a blessing in disguise. That set the stage for Asad and Fawad to showcase their abilities as T20 players.

In a rousing partnership of 113 from 73 balls, not only they entertained a small turnout but also ensured the Dolphins were not going to relax their iron grip over the match. Asad carried on from where left when he made a decent half century against Larkana Bulls two evenings earlier.

Batting in a serene manner, the compact right-hander yet again reminded two of the national selectors present at the venue that he is a proficient run-maker at the T20 level of any standard. Passing the 50-run mark for the fourth time in this format, Asad adorned his 50-ball 78 with eight boundaries and three sixes.

Fawad, another batsman desperate to prove a point to those who matter in the selection committee, did his credentials no harm for a possible inclusion in the T20 side for the one match against Australia next month with a workmanlike 58 (39 balls, five fours and one six).

After Fawad departed Afridi delighted his fans with four boundaries and a brace of sixes in an 11-ball 32 as the Dolphins reached 196-6.

The Bears slumped to 36-4 before a 65-run stand between Taimur Khan (53 not out off 61 balls, five fours and two sixes) and Umar Qasim (31 off 29) helped them end on 110-5.

Former first-class cricketer Abdul Dyer, the chief guest who awarded the man-of-the-match award to Asad, was presented with a special trophy by PCB director domestic cricket operations Intikhab Alam for his meritorious services to the game.

Scoreboard

KARACHI DOLPHINS:

Rameez Raja b Nazar1

Shahzaib Hasan c Taimur b Nazar 9

Asad Shafiq c Bismillah b Gohar78

Faisal Iqbal c and b Arun Lal6

Fawad Alam b Gohar58

Shahid Afridi c Ghulam b Gohar 32

Anwar Ali not out0

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-8, NB-2) 12

TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs)196

FALL OF WKTS: 1-4, 2-20, 3-39, 4-152, 5-196, 6-196.

DID NOT BAT: Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Sami, Faraz Ahmed Khan, Abdul Ameer.

BOWLING: Nazar Hussain 4-0-30-2 (2w); Gohar Faiz 4-0-51-3 (2nb, 5w); Arun Lal 2-0-27-1 (1w); Jalat Khan 4-0-27-0; Ghulam Mohammad 4-0-32-0; Mohibullah 2-0-27-0.

QUETTA BEARS:

Bismillah Khan run out14

Zubair Khan c Faisal b Sami1

Mohibullah c Sarfraz b Anwar2

Taimur Khan not out53

Shahzad Tareen c Afridi b Faraz1

Umar Qasim c Shahzaib b Ameer 31

Jalat Khan not out2

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-4) 6

TOTAL (for five wkts, 20 overs)110

FALL OF WKTS: 1-17, 2-20, 3-20, 4-36, 5-101.

DID NOT BAT: Gohar Faiz, Arun Lal, Ghulam Mohammad, Nazar Hussain.

BOWLING: Mohammad Sami 2-0-7-1 (2w); Anwar Ali 4-0-29-1 (1w); Abdul Ameer 4-0-16-1; Faraz Ahmed Khan 4-0-23-1 (1w); Shahid Afridi 4-0-27-0; Fawad Alam 2-0-6-0.

RESULT: Karachi Dolphins won by 86 runs.

UMPIRES: Tahir Hussain and Majid Hussain.

TV UMPIRE: Sajid Afridi.

MATCH REFEREE: Nadeem Arshad.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Asad Shafiq.

Published in Dawn, September 21st , 2014