RMI MCL-2: PPC Qabails edge past PPC Qalandars in nail biting finish

Ali Sheikh

PESHAWAR: PPC Qabails on Monday held their nerves to beat PPC Qalandars in the nail biting finish in the Pool C match of the ongoing second edition of RMI Media Cricket League being played at Government Shaheed Hasnain Sharif Higher Secondary School No. 1.

After winning the toss Qabails sent Qalandars to bat first. Openers Mehmood and Zia ul Islam gave a stunning start by scoring 51 in the first four overs. Qari Zia gave the breakthrough to Qalandars in the fifth over when he took the wicket of Zia ul Islam. Qabails put the pressure on Qalandars when Shahid took two wickets in one over. Mehmood was his first casualty when in a bid to accelerate scoring Mehmood was caught by Ali Sheikh.

He made 3o runs. Just one ball later Shahid bowled Akhtar Amin to put Qalandars on the back foot. This brought Aftab to the crease who was merciless in his batting and scored a quick fire unbeaten 51 runs off just 20 balls. Aftab hit 6 sixes and two fours. Qalandars ended their innings on a higher note by scoring 18 runs off the last over to give 120 runs target.

Shahid took two wickets while Qari Zia and Irshad took one wicket each.

In reply, Qabails openers Ali Sheikh and Irshad played according to the plan hitting boundaries in every over to keep the required run rate under control. In the eighth over Ali Sheikh was bowled by Hameed after scoring 27 valuable runs. Ali hit four boundaries.

Hameed also bowled the other opener Irshad who kept on to his good form with the bat in the tournament scoring 62 runs off just 30 balls hitting three sixes and 4 fours. Needing 25 runs off 12 balls Qabails captain Bilal was caught on the boundary by Adil on the bowling of Aftab.

But it was Qari Zia who came to the rescue hitting two towering sixes in the ninth over as Qabail needed just 7 runs off the last over. But two run outs in last over made the match more interesting as Qabails needed 5 runs off last two balls. But Niaz who was facing his first ball of the match kept his cool and hit Hameed for a six to win the match for Qabails. Irshad was named man of the match for his brilliant batting.

Earlier, in the first match of the day PPC Markhor outclassed PPC Jaguars by 9 wickets thanks to 51 not out by Yasir. Chasing a target of 68 runs Markhor finished the match in the eighth over after losing just one wicket. Batting first Jaguar scored 68 runs.

Dost Muhammad and Sajjad scored 20 runs each. Rizwan was the pick of the bowlers taking four wickets. Yasir was named Man of the Match for his brilliant batting.