Malik, Ghani star in thrilling win for PIA

Pakistan International Airlines 181 for 5 (Malik 78, Ghani 71*, Masood 3-29) beat Habib Bank Limited 180 for 2 (Masood 64, Baig 58*, Anwar 2-28) by 5 wickets
Scorecard

Shoaib Malik and Sheharyar Ghani scored fifties to chase Habib Bank Limited's competitive target of 181 which meant Fahad Masood's all-round performance went in vain.

After Pakistan International Airlines chose to field, Habib Bank lost Imran Farhat after he struck three fours which was followed by a 101-run stand between Asad Baig and Masood. The pair batted for 12.2 overs, scoring at more than eight an over. Masood was dismissed for 64 which included eight fours and two sixes. Baig was joined by Hasan Raza and the two scored 60 off the last 32 balls to take them to 180. They were also aided by 20 extras.

PIA were in trouble early, as three of their top four batsmen scored five runs in all. They were 7 for 2 after the first five balls and 29 for 3 in the fifth over. However, Malik and Ghani revived them by scoring 118 runs in only 12.3 overs. They needed 56 from the last five overs and when Malik was run-out for 78, they still needed 34 off 16. Anwar Ali was also run-out in the next over but Ghani scored 19 in the penultimate over and his unbeaten 71 ensured they won with two balls to spare. Masood took all three wickets that were taken by bowlers.

State Bank of Pakistan 139 for 8 (Saeed 38, Mudassar 3-15) beat Water and Power Development Authority 136 for 7 (Nasir 26, Waheed 3-31) by three runs
Scorecard

State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) overcame a stop-start batting performance to beat Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) by three runs to record their first win of the Ramadan T20 Cup.

Choosing to bat, SBP's openers began brightly with Rameez Raja collecting a four off the first ball. But just as Raja and his opening partner Farrukh Shehzad were getting into their stride, Mohammad Mudassar accounted for both of them in successive overs to leave SBP at 36 for 2 in the sixth over. SBP flourished again with Adnan Raees and Usman Saeed as they added 52 runs off 38 balls, but both of them were removed in the 17th and 19th overs respectively. SBP lost a further three wickets in the last seven balls to score 139 in 20 overs. Zulfiqar Babar and Mudassar took three wickets apiece for WAPDA.

WAPDA began well and had the target in sight even as late as the 12th over when left-arm spinner Mohammad Waheed turned the game around. Needing 70 runs off 51 balls with eight wickets in hand, the well-set Sohaib Maqsood was run out and Waheed capitalised by removing Mohammad Ayub and Saad Nasim to leave WAPDA at a precarious 92 for 5 in the 16th over. Ayaz Tasawwar came up with a threatening cameo but fell in the eighteenth over. With 12 needed off the last over, Rizwan Haider came up with two crucial dot balls to give away only eight and seal the win.