KARACHI: Following their two-run defeat at the hands of Karachi Dolphins on Thursday, last season’s runners-up Faisalabad Wolves got back into the winning habit, as they beat Lahore Eagles in a Pool A ABN-AMRO Twenty20 Cup Cricket Championship match by 24 runs, on the second day of competition here under lights at the National Stadium on Friday.
The Wolves, who were champions of the inaugural Twenty20 Cup event in 2004-05, batted first after having won the toss. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq followed his knock of 53 against the Dolphins with an unbeaten 60 off 48 balls yesterday.
The former Pakistan batsman hit five fours and a six on the way. Faisalabad ran up a score of 162 for seven in their 20 overs. Then, they restricted Lahore Eagles to 138 for eight in the latter’s full quota.
After the early dismissal of Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez (4) off the second ball of the match, the Wolves were well served by a 50-run second-wicket stand. Asif Hussain blasted 37 off 20 balls with four fours and two sixes while Imran Ali’s 30 came off 21 balls with two fours and a six.
Misbah contributed 60 off the 97 runs added after he came in at 65-3 in only the sixth over. Lahore’s left-arm pace bowler Mohammad Khalil continued his good work in the domestic season, with figures of 3-40 in his four overs.
Lahore Eagles lost opener Ashfaq Ahmed for a duck second ball. Only three batsmen got into the 20s, Arsalan Mir top-scoring with 29 off 20 balls with three fours and a six.
Faisalabad pacemen Shahid Nazir (2-26) and Asad Ali (2-12), in association with slow left-armer Imran Khalid (2-12), kept the Lahore batsmen in check.
Two matches — Islamabad Leopards v Multan Tigers at the Asghar Ali Shah Stadium and Karachi Zebras v Sialkot Stallions at National Stadium — were being played later during the day on Friday.
Fixtures for today (Saturday): 10.00am — Sialkot Stallions v Hyderabad Hawks at United Bank Limited (UBL) Sports Complex Ground No.1. 5.00pm — Islamabad Leopards v Peshawar Panthers at National Stadium. 6.30pm — Karachi Dolphins v Abbottabad Rhinos at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium. 8.30pm — Lahore Lions v Rawalpindi Rams at National Stadium.
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