RBS 20-20 Heats Up!
Today is the final day of league games of the RBS 20-20 Cup with the 4 semi final spots up for grabs.
This is what the points table looks like thus far.
Group A
The Dolphins with 2 wins out of 2 look set to make it from group A, however the Wolves do have an outside chance if they beat the Eagles by a high margin and the Dolphins lose to the lowly rated Rhinos.
Highly unlikely but possible.
This was the toughest group of the tournament with a former champion and a former runner up pooled together.
Looks like Afridi will be taking a shot at a 2nd domestic title for his team this year.
Group B
The winner of today's game between the Stallions and the Hawks will determine who will go through to the semi finals from Group B.
The Karachi Zebras were thrown out of the competition by the Hyderabad Hawks last night as they failed to chase a competitive 169.
The Hawks batting charge was led by allrounder Rizwan Ahmed who smashed a 43 ball 57 and experienced domestic player Shahid Qambrani who belted an unbeaten 48 off 36 balls.
In response the Zebras started in emphatic fashion with an opening partnership of 87 before the rest of the batting collapsed losing the 8 wickets for 25 runs. Left arm spinner Nauman Ali (2-16) and part timer Faisal Athar (3-7) were the wreckers-in-chief.
Shoaib Malik's Stallions, who are chasing their 3rd consecutive 20-20 title, are the favorites to join the Dolphins in tomorrow' semi-finals.
Group C
Multan Tigers' unlikely 7 wicket victory over the Peshawar Panthers last night has given them a strong chance of making it to the semi finals.
If the Tigers beat the Leaopards tonight, they will be through; however a victory for the Leaopards will give the Panthers a lease of life and net run rates will come into play.
Last night the Tigers' internationals, Abdur Rauf (2-11) and Kamran Hussain (3-10) sent the Panthers crashing to 103 all out as their famed batting line up of Yasir Hameed (8), Wajahatullah Wasti (2), Jannisar Khan (0), Rafatullah Mohmand (0), and skipper Younis Khan (0) fell to quality swing bowling.
The Panthers were reeling at 15-6 before Aftab Alam took them to a somewhat respectable total with a polished 52 off 49 deliveries.
The Tigers' batsmen, though inexperienced, easily reached the target in 16 overs, while losing 3 wickets on their way.
Group D
Tonight, the Lions will fight it out with the Rams for the final slot in the semi finals.
Last night, the Rawal Pindi Rams ended the Quetta Bears' campaign after they thrashed them by 75 runs.
The Rams' quality pace battery of Sohail Tanvir (3-20), Yasir Arafat (3-5), and Mohammad Aamer (2-13) helped fold the Bears innings up for 67.
Earlier Arafat had played a cruicial role with the bat scoring 35 off 26 deliveries, after the Rams had been struggling on 59-5, guiding them to a total of 142.
Semi Finals
These will be played out tomorrow and I think it will involve the Dolphins, Stallions, Lions, and Tigers. Though the Rams look like most likely of teams to upset te Lions.
Stay tuned for updated.
This is what the points table looks like thus far.
Group AThe Dolphins with 2 wins out of 2 look set to make it from group A, however the Wolves do have an outside chance if they beat the Eagles by a high margin and the Dolphins lose to the lowly rated Rhinos.
Highly unlikely but possible.
This was the toughest group of the tournament with a former champion and a former runner up pooled together.
Looks like Afridi will be taking a shot at a 2nd domestic title for his team this year.
Group B
The winner of today's game between the Stallions and the Hawks will determine who will go through to the semi finals from Group B.
The Karachi Zebras were thrown out of the competition by the Hyderabad Hawks last night as they failed to chase a competitive 169.
The Hawks batting charge was led by allrounder Rizwan Ahmed who smashed a 43 ball 57 and experienced domestic player Shahid Qambrani who belted an unbeaten 48 off 36 balls.
In response the Zebras started in emphatic fashion with an opening partnership of 87 before the rest of the batting collapsed losing the 8 wickets for 25 runs. Left arm spinner Nauman Ali (2-16) and part timer Faisal Athar (3-7) were the wreckers-in-chief.
Shoaib Malik's Stallions, who are chasing their 3rd consecutive 20-20 title, are the favorites to join the Dolphins in tomorrow' semi-finals.
Group C
Multan Tigers' unlikely 7 wicket victory over the Peshawar Panthers last night has given them a strong chance of making it to the semi finals.
If the Tigers beat the Leaopards tonight, they will be through; however a victory for the Leaopards will give the Panthers a lease of life and net run rates will come into play.
Last night the Tigers' internationals, Abdur Rauf (2-11) and Kamran Hussain (3-10) sent the Panthers crashing to 103 all out as their famed batting line up of Yasir Hameed (8), Wajahatullah Wasti (2), Jannisar Khan (0), Rafatullah Mohmand (0), and skipper Younis Khan (0) fell to quality swing bowling.
The Panthers were reeling at 15-6 before Aftab Alam took them to a somewhat respectable total with a polished 52 off 49 deliveries.
The Tigers' batsmen, though inexperienced, easily reached the target in 16 overs, while losing 3 wickets on their way.
Group D
Tonight, the Lions will fight it out with the Rams for the final slot in the semi finals.
Last night, the Rawal Pindi Rams ended the Quetta Bears' campaign after they thrashed them by 75 runs.
The Rams' quality pace battery of Sohail Tanvir (3-20), Yasir Arafat (3-5), and Mohammad Aamer (2-13) helped fold the Bears innings up for 67.
Earlier Arafat had played a cruicial role with the bat scoring 35 off 26 deliveries, after the Rams had been struggling on 59-5, guiding them to a total of 142.
Semi Finals
These will be played out tomorrow and I think it will involve the Dolphins, Stallions, Lions, and Tigers. Though the Rams look like most likely of teams to upset te Lions.
Stay tuned for updated.
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I predict a Karachi vs Sialkot final again....
I think the Lions will upset the Stallions!