Bahawalpur edge one-over eliminator in thriller

Bahawalpur Region defended six runs off the last over of the game and then won the one-over eliminator against Hyderabad Region after a thrilling tie in Rawalpindi.

Chasing 161, Hyderabad needed six runs off the last over. Pacer Zahir Siddiqi gave away three runs and took one wicket off the first five balls of the over, but conceded two wides, allowing Hyderabad to draw level. With Hyderabad needing a run off the last ball, Faisal Athar was run-out for 50, pushing the game into a Super Over.

Hyderabad struggled in the Super Over, too, and were bowled out for 2 within four balls. Bahawalpur's Faisal Mubashir managed two of the first three balls but then sealed the game with a four, helping the side climb to second place in the Group A table.

Hyderabad's chase was fashioned by half-centuries from opener Azeem Ghumman and Athar, as well as a swift 31 from Sharjeel Khan at the top of the order. A brisk 50-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Athar and Shoaib Laghari then brought Hyderabad to the brink of victory, before both batsmen were dismissed in the final over.

Earlier, Mubashir's unbeaten 61 off 47 deliveries, with supporting knocks from opener Mohammad Yasir (42) and Riasat Ali (44), helped Bahawalpur post a challenging 160 for 4 after being put in to bat.

Kamran Akmal's rapid half-century provided the Multan Region bowlers with 162 to defend and it proved enough by seven runs. New-ball bowlers Majid Ali and Aamer Yamin had Sialkot Region at 23 for 4 and though Pakistan internationals Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail attempted a middle-order fightback, they had sustained too much early damage.

First, at the hands of Akmal, who walloped 40 of his 51 in boundaries after his side had been invited to bat. That start ensured that despite Multan falling away in in the middle order - they lost two wickets for one run twice in the innings - they were able to post a total of 162.

The lack of a strong foundation was Sialkot's undoing. Three of the four top-order batsmen fell for single-figures before Malik and Sohail struck 43 each. Then Usama Mir whacked 30 off 16 balls, but all three batsmen fell at the wrong time and the tail could not cope with the asking rate. Akmal, with his fifty, two catches, a stumping and a run out, was awarded the Man of the Match.

Nasir Jamshed struck an unbeaten 104 off 61 balls, underpinning a 14-run win for Rawalpindi Region against Karachi Region Whites in Rawalpindi.

Having been asked to bat, Rawalpindi raced to 33 for 0 in three overs before Awais Zia was dismissed by seamer Tabish Khan. Five overs later, Naved Malik was removed for 18, but Jamshed and Umar Amin added 116 to drive their side. Jamshed brought up his fifty off 31 balls and charged to his maiden T20 century off 57 balls. He drilled 13 fours and 2 sixes, with Amin, who hit 52 off 32 balls, proving an able ally. Four Karachi bowlers were left nursing economy rates of over nine as Rawalpindi finished with 205.

Karachi, led by Rameez Raja's rapid 77, made a good fist of the challenge, but eventually fell short. The chase began strongly with openers Ahsan Ali and Raja putting on 68 but lack of substantial contributions from the middle order turned out to be their undoing. Mohammad Amir was the pick of the bowlers for Rawalpindi, returning figures of 2 for 21 in four overs.

Khalid Latif's quickfire 44-ball 71 ensured Karachi Region Blues got past the target of 159 with seven wickets and 10 balls to spare to hand Faisalabad Region their second consecutive loss in as many days. Chasing a stiff target, Latif combined with Khurram Manzoor - who struck a solid 47 off 45 balls - to take Karachi close.

Karachi got through the openers relatively quickly and Khurram Shehzad, batting at No 3, struggled for fluency in his 29-ball 22. However, the middle order provided the required impetus with handy contributions to take Faisalabad to 158 for 5. Anwar Ali conceded 40 in his four overs without picking up a wicket.

In spite of losing Shahzaib Hasan for 10 in the chase, Latif found the boundary with ease, hitting six fours and four sixes in his innings. Manzoor and Sarfraz Ahmed fell in quick succession but Anwar's 11-ball 22 helped finish the match in the penultimate over.

Fifties from opener Rafatullah Mohmand and Musadiq Ahmed steered Peshawar Region to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Islamabad Region, as the side chased down a target of 182 runs with 15 balls to spare.

Mohmand provided the impetus early on, smashing a 38-ball 61, which included nine fours and three sixes. His innings lifted the side to 87 before his dismissal in the 10th over. The side lost two quick wickets but Musadiq's charge turned the game decisively in Peshawar's favour. The batsman struck 57 off only 18 deliveries with six fours and four sixes, propelling Peshwar's march to the target.

Earlier fifties from Afaq Raheem (77 off 52 deliveries) and Babar Azam (60 not out off 49 balls) lifted Islamabad to a formidable 181 for 2. The pair added 117 runs for the second wicket after Shan Masood's early dismissal and Azam then shared a swift 48-run, third-wicket partnership with Imad Wasim to provide the side with a strong finish.