Islamabad registers first victory in National ODI cup

The match between Faisalabad and FATA was played at Rawalpindi cricket stadium where Faisalabad after winning the toss elected to field first. FATA posted a huge total of 311 runs on board playing first in 50 overs for the loss of 9 wickets. Khushdil Shah 93 and Sohail Akhtar 85 were the top scorers from FATA. Muhammad Imran claimed 4 wickets while Khurram Shahzad got 2 and Asad Raza picked up 1 wicket. Faisalabad in reply, chased down the total of 311 runs in 43. 2 overs for the loss of just 3 wickets and won the match by 7 wickets, courtesy brilliant hundreds from Asif Ali 133 and Zain Abbas 104 runs. Hammad Azam got 2 while Mohammad Irfan (jr) received 1 wicket from FATA.

Another match was played between Karachi whites and Peshawar where Peshawar put Karachi to bat first and Karachi whites were able to score 206 runs in 50 overs for the loss of 8 wickets. Fawad Alam scored unbeaten 90 runs. Israrullah got 3, Taj Wali, Zohaib Khan picked up 2 each and Azizullah claimed 1 wicket from Peshawar. With belligerent batting and good opening partnership, Peshawar chased the total of 206 runs in 34.5 overs for the loss of 3 wickets and claimed the match by 7 wickets. Sahibzada Farhan 85 and Ashfaq Ahmed 52 were main runs scorers from Peshawar. Danish Aziz got 2 while Mohammad Asghar got 1 wicket from Karachi whites.

Third match of the day was played between Lahore Blues and Rawalpindi and Rawalpindi while bowling first after winning the toss, rattled the Lahore batting lineup and wrapped their innings on 181 runs. Bilawal Iqbal scored 50 not out and Saad Nasim 44 was another top scorer. Sohail Tanvir and Kashif Bhatti got 3 wickets each, Sadaf Hussain got 2 and Yasir Ali claimed 1. Rawalpindi chased the target in 45.3 overs for the loss of 6 wickets to win the match by 4 wickets. Azhar Ali played a knock of 68 runs while Saud Shakeel remain unbeaten on 33. 2 each wickets for Raza Ali and Salman Ali Agha while Aizaz Cheema and Bilalwal Iqbal got 1 apiece from Lahore blues.

The most interesting and highlighted match of the day was played between Islamabad and Lahore whites where Islamabad team defeated Lahore by 51 runs to earn their first victory in three matches.

Lahore whites won the toss and put Islamabad to bat first and Faizan Riaz 95 and Shan Masood 83 helped Islamabad posting 282 runs in 50 overs for the loss of 8 wickets. Umaid Asif got 3 while Waqas Ahmed picked 2 and Ali Shafiq, Mohammad Irfan and Zafar Gohar claimed 1 wicket each from whites. Nauman Ali and Shehzad Aslam from Islamabad wrapped up Lahore’s innings on 231 runs. Nauman got 4, Shahzad 3, Mohammad Irfan 2 and Ahmed Bashir picked 1 from Islamabad. Half-centuries from Usman Saluhaddin 81 and Mohammad Mohsin 61 went in vain as Lahore fall 51 runs short of the target.

Karachi whites tops the points table with 4 points after playing 3 matches while Rawalpindi with 4 points earned second spot and with 4 points, Peshawar claimed 3rd place. FATA still winless in the competition after playing 3 matches.