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RP Singh, the India fast bowler, has been ruled out of the A tour to the West Indies next month after injuring his right knee

ESPNcricinfo staff26-May-2012RP Singh, the India fast bowler, has been ruled out of the A tour to the West Indies next month after injuring his right knee. He has been replaced by the Delhi right-arm seamer Parvinder Awana, who was impressive for Kings XI Punjab during the current edition of the IPL.RP, who last played for India during the tour of England in 2011, took ten wickets in 11 games for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Awana impressed with his pace and control, leading Kings XI wicket charts with 17 wickets in 11 games, with a best of 4 for 34. He has claimed 110 first-class wickets from 32 matches in his career at an average of just under 30. He was expecting a call-up to the A squad when it was announced last month, but took the disappointment in his stride.Awana said he was happy his recent performances were being recognised.”I am very happy. All the hard work that I have put in and the wickets I have taken has come good today,” Awana told ESPNcricinfo. “I would credit both the IPL and first-class cricket. The IPL got me noticed and all my first-class experience helped me do well in the IPL.”India A play three four-day matches, three one-day matches and two Twenty20s on the tour, which begins in Barbados on June 2.

The preview of the second ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Pallekele

The Preview by Siddarth Ravindran08-Jun-2012

Match Facts

Saturday, June 9
Start time 1430 (0900 GMT)Misbah-ul-Haq and Dav Whatmore will expect better fielding from Pakistan•AFP

The Big Picture

Weren’t the limited-overs formats, especially in the subcontinent, supposed to be a batsman’s game? The two Twenty20s in Hambantota and the first ODI in Pallekele have all been about the bowlers though, with the batsmen being tested in seaming conditions reminiscent of cricket in the early English summer. The frequent rain interruptions during Thursday’s one-dayer added to that impression.June is not cricket season in Sri Lanka traditionally, mainly due to the wet weather. Only two ODI series have been played in Sri Lanka in that month: the Nidahas Trophy in 1998 which had half its matches wiped out by rain, and the Asia Cup in 2010 which was held in the dry zone of Dambulla. Like the first ODI, rain is expected during Saturday’s match.Pakistan will like a repeat of the result on Thursday, but not a reprise of their fielding. They put down a handful of simple catches on their way to a straightforward victory, disproving the old adage that “catches win matches”. Another aspect they will want to improve is the discipline while bowling – the 23 wides they bowled made up one-sixth of Sri Lanka’s total.Sri Lanka were pretty much out of the game within the first 15 overs, as their experienced top order failed against the swing and seam. They had slid to 68 for 6 when Saeed Ajmal was introduced. The form of Sri Lanka’s top-three batsmen – Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, none of whom have crossed 20 in three games this series – remains a concern.

Form guide

(Most recent first)
Pakistan WWLWW
Sri Lanka LLLLL

Watch out for…

Mohammad Sami, playing his first ODI in more than five years, got a dream surface to bowl on which the ball was jagging around so much, the batsmen could barely get bat on it.. Sami revelled in the conditions, working up some solid pace as he finished with 3 for 19.Tillakaratne Dilshan was the top run-getter in the CB series earlier this year, but had an indifferent time at both the Asia Cup and the IPL. The lacklustre run has continued in this series as well, with Dilshan going for the adventurous hits even before gauging the tricky tracks on offer.

Team news

One question for Pakistan to ponder is whether to get in an extra batsman, given how difficult run-making has proved. They went in with Shahid Afridi at No. 6 in the first ODI, making their batting line-up look a little shallow.Pakistan (likely) 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Azhar Ali, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Umar Gul, 10 Saeed Ajmal, 11 Mohammad SamiDespite the heavy defeat on Thursday, Sri Lanka are likely to go in with the same XI.Sri Lanka (likely) 1 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 2 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Upul Tharanga, 6 Lahiru Thirimanne, 7 Angelo Mathews, 8 Thisara Perera, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Lasith Malinga

Stats and trivia

• In their last 14 matches against Pakistan, Sri Lanka have crossed 250 only twice
• With 30 wickets, Lasith Malinga is comfortably the leading wicket-taker of the year in ODIs
• Sri Lanka are among Umar Akmal’s preferred opposition sides: in 12 innings, he has a hundred and four half-centuries against them with his 506 runs coming at an average of 56.22

A return to ODIs for Kevin Pietersen appears unlikely which means his ambitions to play in the World Twenty20 will continue to be scuppered

Andrew McGlashan15-Jul-2012A return to one-day internationals for Kevin Pietersen appears unlikely which means his ambitions to play in the World Twenty20 will continue to be scuppered with Andy Flower, the England team director, sticking to his original stance on the issue.Over the week Pietersen has said he wants to play “three or four” more years in all international formats providing a schedule he is happy with can be negotiated with the ECB. Initial meetings have taken place with the board, but they do not want to be in the situation where a senior player is seen to be picking and choosing when he plays on his own accord.Pietersen continues to believe the demands placed on him if he plays all three formats are far too great. However, claims that “I’ve never been looked after” appear a little wide of the mark given the security that comes with central contracts and the support he has had when injured.Pietersen’s retirement from ODIs meant he became ineligible for Twenty20 international selection as the ECB central contracts stipulate players have to be available for both formats. England need to submit a 30-man World Twenty20 squad to the ICC by Wednesday so time is running out for the situation to be resolved in Pietersen’s favour.Flower, a man of principle who counts loyalty as a major factor, does not see a way back for Pietersen. “As things stand at the moment, no, there isn’t,”he told the Mail on Sunday.”The situation is the same as it was when he first approached us. The ECB are determined to protect all three formats of the game and part of that is not setting a precedent of allowing players to retire from one-day cricket alone.”The intent behind it is that we are serving English cricket in its entirety,” Flower added. “We have to take personalities out of the equation. We all are lucky enough to have the choice about what we do. There are many people in this world that aren’t lucky enough to have a choice. Here we’re talking about a sporting situation and we all have our choices. I don’t have to sign a contract with the ECB if I don’t want to.”In the week leading towards the start of a major Test series against South Africa, which will determine the No. 1 ranking, Pietersen’s stance has created a talking point that Flower wishes was not around.”Situations like these make it a little more complicated,” he said. “It doesn’t mean that they can’t work but it does make it a little more complicated. And I tell you one thing, none of us can afford for these types of issues to be distractions.”Geoff Miller, the national selector who is in charge of putting together the preliminary World Twenty20 squad, said if Pietersen was fully committed to 50- and 20-over cricket he would be welcomed back in the team but his name had not been involved in recent selection discussions. “My job is to pick players who are available,” he said.

Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, will be assessed overnight to determine the seriousness of his knee injury

Firdose Moonda at Headingley04-Aug-2012Graeme Smith, the South Africa captain, will field with a strapped knee for the rest of the Headingley Test after being injured on the third day. But, South Africa have picked up another injury as well. Jacques Kallis developed lower back spasms overnight and will not bowl or field in the current innings.That brings to three the number of injuries picked up in this match after Alviro Petersen suffered a grade one strain of his right hamstring. None of the wounded will be able allowed a runner – in keeping with the ICC’s playing conditions change last year – and Petersen and Kallis will only be able to bat at No.7 and No.8 because their injuries are internal or after the amount of they have been off the field.Smith slid while fielding on the backward point boundary late in the afternoon and dug his left knee dug into the outfield. He struggled to get up, hobbled for a few paces and then called for on-field treatment. Although Smith was able to stand, he did not stay on the park any longer and left with assistance from the physiotherapist, limping.AB de Villiers took over captaincy duties for the remaining four overs of play and Robin Peterson came on to field. South Africa were already fielding one substitute, Faf du Plessis, who replaced Petersen. Peterson will now field in Kallis’ place.South Africa may be forced to depend on Jacques Rudolph to open the batting for them. Rudolph played in that position for Yorkshire and in four Tests last year. The rest of the line-up may have to shift one position higher than normal.Smith has a history of ankle problems and underwent surgery in April. He was not able to play any competitive cricket for more than three months.He and Kallis are the fifth and sixth South African players to be injured on the current tour of England. Mark Boucher’s lacerated eyeball in Taunton ended the veteran wicketkeeper’s career, Marchant de Lange’s lower back spasms ruled him out for six weeks and his replacement Albie Morkel is currently carrying an ankle injury, which made him unavailable for consideration in this match.

Ian Blackwell has joined Warwickshire on loan from Durham until the end of the season.

George Dobell15-Aug-2012Ian Blackwell has joined Warwickshire on loan from Durham until the end of the season.Blackwell, the 34-year-old former England allrounder, who has played one Test and 34 ODIs, has fallen out of favour at Chester-le-Street but will join Warwickshire in order to deputise for their overseas player, offspinner Jeetan Patel, who has been recalled to the New Zealand Test squad for their tour of India. Blackwell will join Warwickshire ahead of this Sunday’s CB40 game against the Unicorns at Wormsley.While left-arm spinner Blackwell is somewhat overweight in comparison to most modern cricketers and has a poor throwing arm, he remains a fine cricketer. He has scored over 11,000 first-class runs at an average a fraction under 40 and claimed career-best bowling figures – 7 for 52 – in his last first-class game, against Australia A at the start of August.Blackwell will provide Warwickshire’s main spin bowling option for the next few weeks. The club’s first choice left-arm spinner, Chris Metters, is unavailable through injury and young allrounder Paul Best is deemed too inexperienced for the burden. Warwickshire, with four games to go, lead the County Championship by 11 points with a game in hand on second-placed Sussex.Warwickshire expect Patel back in time for their final Championship match – against third-placed Nottinghamshire, who are 21 points behind Warwickshire having played the same amount of games – but retain slim hope that he may be back in time for the penultimate game, against Worcestershire at New Road.Ashley Giles, director of cricket at Warwickshire, said: “Ian is a very experienced cricketer, with almost 400 first-class wickets and international honours. With Jeetan Patel away for the next four weeks after winning a call-up to New Zealand’s tour of India, Ian will play an important role as the senior spinner in the team.”He joins us after taking seven wickets against Australia A two weeks ago, and with key matches coming up in the County Championship and CB40, we’re very pleased to secure his services. I would like to thank Geoff Cook and Durham for allowing us to bring Ian to Warwickshire on loan.”Ian Blackwell said: “I’m pleased to have the opportunity to go on loan to Warwickshire and play some first team cricket. It’s been frustrating not being selected at Durham and I’m keen to get out there and prove not only my fitness, but also that I can still make match-winning contributions. I want to be back playing for Durham and this is a means of achieving that.”Durham head coach Geoff Cook added: “This is a great opportunity for Ian to play first-class cricket and get some time in the middle against strong opposition. Our current first XI have built some real momentum in four day cricket and as a result opportunities for Ian to break back into the squad, due to the conditions and surfaces that we have been faced with, have been limited.”We took him to Notts in order to try and give him a game if the conditions were right, however as that wasn’t the case it is important for him to get some cricket under his belt and going on loan to Warwickshire allows him to do that.”

ESPNcricinfo’s preview of the third Twenty20 between Pakistan and Australia in Dubai

Daniel Brettig10-Sep-2012

Match facts

Glenn Maxwell is pushing for a recall for the final match•AFP

September 10, 2012
Start time 2000 (1600 GMT)

Big Picture

With the series decided via the means of a Super Over, Pakistan and Australia are intent on some more high intensity preparation for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka during the final match in Dubai. For Pakistan, the match provides a chance to employ some players not yet used, including Mohammad Sami and Yasir Arafat. It also offers the tantalising prospect of a clean sweep over Australia, something seldom achieved in any format.The Australians, by contrast, are simply hopeful that the upward trend of their T20 form in the series – a hiding in the first match, a far better showing in the second – will continue with a victory to take them to Sri Lanka with some level of confidence. To that end, the only likely change to the team is the recall of the young allrounder Glenn Maxwell, whose hitting prowess could have been useful in the latter stages of the chase in game two. Australia’s coach Mickey Arthur was satisfied with how the team’s batsmen had attacked with conviction on Friday, David Warner in particular seeming to turn a corner in the belief he applied to his strokes.But all that progress will be set back by another defeat, one that Pakistan will be keen to inflict and so leave Dubai with the greatest momentum possible for their tilt at the world title.

Form guide (Complete matches, most recent first)

Pakistan WWWLL
Australia LLLWL

Watch out for

Having not batted nor bowled in the opening match, Abdul Razzaq was barely seen until the closing moments of the second, coming on cold to bowl the final over of the innings and preventing Australia – by one run – from chasing down the target. He then went out to bat with Umar Akmal as Pakistan cuffed the winning runs from the Super Over. Flushed with confidence from those efforts, Razzaq can be expected to play a more central role this time around.With a pair of starts and a couple of reasonable spells, Shane Watson has been feeling his way back into rhythm after injury, and there were signs during game two that he was getting closer to the destructive T20 force he has been in the past. A strong display during the final match would greatly enhance Watson’s belief before the trip to Sri Lanka, and there is no question that a confident and in-form Watson would make a great difference to Australia’s chances when they get there.

Team news

Pakistan’s coach Dav Whatmore has flagged possible changes to the team given that the series has been secured, though Shahid Afridi’s inclusion will not be one of them, as he is still battling a left hand injury. Saeed Ajmal complained of left shoulder soreness after the second match but is expected to play.Pakistan (possible) 1 Mohammad Hafeez (capt), 2 Imran Nazir, 3 Nasir Jamshed, 4 Kamran Akmal (wk), 5 Umar Akmal, 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Sohail Tanvir, 9 Raza Hasan, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Saeed AjmalAustralia have added Glenn Maxwell to the XI chosen for the second match, and he may come in for one of Cameron White, Dan Christian or David Hussey.Australia 1 David Warner, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Michael Hussey, 4 David Hussey, 5 George Bailey (capt), 6 Cameron White/Glenn Maxwell, 7 Matthew Wade (wk), 8 Daniel Christian, 9 Brad Hogg, 10 Pat Cummins, 11 Mitchell Starc.

Pitch and conditions

The third match to be played on the same surface means there will be greater wear and tear, and less pace for bowlers and batsmen to work with.

Stats and trivia

• A win for Pakistan would give them their second clean sweep of a T20 series against Australia, having won 2-0 in as many matches in England in 2010.
• A win for Australia would take them back above Ireland on the ICC rankings table.
• No batsman on either side has yet passed 50 in the series so far, Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez going closest with 45 apiece in the second match.
  

  Quotes

  “You cannot say it is as big a game as if the series was 1-1, but it still important for us. The pressure is off, we will be a bit more relaxed. There will be a change or two in the team, it is an opportunity to look at one or two other players but to remain as competitive as possible as winning is important.”

Since lifting their first IPL trophy in 2010, Chennai Super Kings have proven time and again why they are among the most successful Twenty20 franchises

Kanishkaa Balachandran13-Oct-2012Since lifting their first IPL trophy in 2010, Chennai Super Kings have proven time and again why they are among the most successful Twenty20 franchises, with two IPL titles and a Champions League (2010) title to boot. They nearly made it a hat-trick of IPL titles this year; they were upstaged in front of delirious home fans by Kolkata Knight Riders in a tense, high-scoring final. Their path to the final was a story in itself. A patchy league stage raised doubts of them making the playoffs, but with a mixture of incredible luck and self belief, they made it one step further.Their batting in the league stages was inconsistent, despite possessing many hitters. It came down to a stage where they needed to win four out of four to make the playoffs. They won the first three – including crushing wins against Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils – but lost the fourth, against Kings XI Punjab. Their only hope was if the other results went their way and incredibly, they did. Super Kings sneaked into the playoffs as the fourth team, before overpowering Mumbai Indians and Daredevils to make it to the finals. For the second season in a row, adversity brought out the best in them.Super Kings mastered South African conditions in their last visit in 2010, lifting the Champions League after upsetting the home side Warriors in a one-sided final. This time they will be without Dwayne Bravo – who pulled out due to a thigh strain – and the batsman S Anirudha. They are clubbed with Sydney Sixers, Lions, Yorkshire and Mumbai Indians.

How they qualified

Super Kings made a dramatic entry to the final of IPL 2012 but even their imposing score of 190 wasn’t enough as Knight Riders closed out a nail-biter with two balls to spare.

Key Player

Suresh Raina has played a whopping 91 matches for Super Kings since 2008 and has scored 2525 runs with 16 fifties. His presence has been as important as their captain MS Dhoni. He was also Super Kings’ leading run-getter in IPL 2012 with 441 runs at a strike-rate of 135.69. While his position in the Test team has been questioned, there’s no doubt that he’s among the best T20 batsmen in the country.

Surprise package

Ben Hilfenhaus was a relative newcomer to the line-up after missing the whole of the 2011 season due to injury. He caused problems for batsmen with his pace and swing and in a match against Royals, he produced tight figures of 4-1-8-2. He ended the tournament with 14 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.85.

Weakness

The team may be loaded with power-hitters and the best finishers in the game, but they still lack an out-and-out quick bowler capable of bouncing out batsmen in favourable pitches in South Africa. Doug Bollinger and Hilfenhaus are the quickest of the lot, but can be erratic. Nuwan Kulasekara and Albie Morkel bowl at similar pace and are effective in their own ways. Bravo’s slower balls will be missed.

Table leaders Matabeleland Tuskers recorded their third-straight win, beating Mashonaland Eagles by 312 runs at the Queens Sports Club

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2012
ScorecardTable leaders Matabeleland Tuskers recorded their third straight win, beating Mashonaland Eagles by 312 runs at the Queens Sports Club. Centuries by Moeen Ali and Sean Ervine helped the Tuskers recover after conceding a first-innings lead, before Keegan Meth took his second five-for in the match to send the Eagles crashing to 104 early on the final day.The Eagles chose to field and their decision was vindicated on the first day when they dismissed the Tuskers for 143, with Kyle Jarvis finishing with 7 for 35. The highest score of the innings was 23. The Eagles didn’t get off to a good start with the bat either, ending the opening day at 107 for 5. Contributions from the lower order helped the Eagles secure a first-innings lead of 102. Nathan Waller was the top scorer with 51. Meth, the right-arm
seamer who nipped out three top-order wickets on the opening day, finished with 5 for 46.The Tuskers made up for their first-innings failure by getting off a strong start. Ali and Terry Duffin added 152 for the second wicket, scoring at 5.37 per over. Ali hit 19 boundaries in his 101, off 105 balls, before he was stumped. Duffin fell four short of his century when he was run-out by Stuart Matsikenyeri. The Tuskers ended the second day on a strong 186 for 2 and they extended the advantage the following day. Ervine was aggressive on the third day, smashing 14 fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 153, off just 140 balls. He added a quick 127 with Charles Coventry (76) before the captain Meth declared at 518 for 8.Chasing 417, Eagles had all but lost the game on the penultimate day, after they were reduced to 88 for 8. Opening bowlers Meth and Glen Querl shared eight wickets between them and it was Meth who sealed the game early on the fourth day when he had Jarvis caught.

Cri-zelda Brits, the former South Africa women’s captain, will return to the international stage for the tour to West Indies later this month

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Dec-2012Cri-zelda Brits, the former South Africa women’s captain, will return to the international stage for the tour to West Indies later this month which is part of the team’s preparation for the Women’s World Cup in India.Brits, 29, took an indefinite break from international cricket last year to focus on her off-field profession after she was promoted to a manager with her company. Now, with the World Cup around the corner, Brits is excited about her return.”I’m really happy to be back,” he said. “This is a very exciting time for me and I’m really looking forward to representing my country again. This break served to show me how much I love the game and how much I’ve missed playing international cricket. I can’t wait to get into get on the field in St Kitts and do what I was born to do.”Brits made her debut against India in 2002 and initially played for more than a decade during which time she gained 57 ODI caps. She has also played four Tests and 17 Twenty20s.Hilton Moreeng, the coach, said: “It’s a pleasure to see the return of an experienced player like Cri-zelda, I’m certain she’ll have a positive influence on the side. I’m confident about the team we’ve chosen, it’s a really good mixture of youth and experience and I’m happy with the depth in the side.”We’re excited about going to the West Indies and to face some tough competition. This is the best preparation for the World Cup that we could ask for and we look forward to our arrival and getting our campaign started.”The squad includes two debutants, Savanna Cordes and Elrisa Theunissen, after they impressed in CSA Women’s Provincial League.South Africa leave for St Kitts on December 28 for their series which will take place from January 7-15. They will finish off with a two-match T20 series before departing for the World Cup in India.Squad Mignon du Preez, Susan Benade, Cri-zelda Brits, Trisha Chetty, Savanna Cordes, Dinesha Devnarain, Shandré Fritz, Marizanne Kapp, Dané van Niekerk, Marcia Letsoalo, Sunette Loubser, Yolandi Potgieter, Chloe Tryon, Elrisa Theunissen

Round-up of Faysal Bank T-20 Cup matches played on December 2, 2012

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Dec-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsUmar Amin’s all-round show earned him the man-of-the-match award•PCB

In a tight contest, Karachi Dolphins, requiring 26 to win in the final over, lost by five runs to Rawalpindi Rams at the Gaddafi Stadium in front of a crowd of 5000. Middle-order batsman Fawad Alam, who scored an unbeaten 40 off 17 deliveries, smashed 20 runs off five deliveries through two sixes and a boundary, before being beaten by Sohail Tanvir off the final ball.Umar Amin scored a half-century and bowled an economical spell to be adjudged Man of the Match.After having chosen to bat, Rawalpindi started briskly, with the openers adding 64 runs in 44 deliveries. Each of the top four batsmen outscored the other, with No. 3 Babar Naeem and Amin consolidating on the solid platform laid by the openers. Karachi captain Shahid Afridi was expensive, giving away 49 runs in his four overs, as Rawalpindi scored 188.Karachi suffered an early blow in their chase, when opener Shahzaib Hasan was dismissed for a duck off the second ball of the innings. His partner Khurram Manzoor kept Karachi in the chase with two productive partnerships of 51 and 49 respectively for the second and the third wicket. With the required run rate climbing steadily, Alam and Tanvir Ahmed added 53 in five overs to keep them in the hunt, but Karachi fell just short.
ScorecardSialkot Stallions captain Shoaib Malik scored a half-century and took four wickets to help his team to a 72-run triumph in the opening match of the day in Lahore. Chasing 150, Quetta Bears lost wickets regularly, and were in trouble at 50 for 6, before Jalat Khan provided some resistance by scoring 17. But the target proved beyond them.Sialkot, after being asked to bat first, began positively with their openers putting on 21 for the first wicket. They wobbled when Haris Sohail was run out for 11 but Malik, who scored 51, and Shahid Yousuf laid the anchor for a strong total with a 57-run partnership. For Quetta, Nazar Hussain, the left-arm seamer, took his career-best figures of 3 for 16.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKamran Akmal’s aggressive half-century and Mohammad Hafeez’s four wickets drove Lahore Lions to a 30-run victory against Abbottabad Falcons in Lahore. Chasing a stiff 187, Abbottabad were off to a brisk start, with a 45-run opening stand between Yasir Hameed and Mir Azam. Hameed, who scored 45, added a further 54 with captain Younis Khan. But quick wickets pegged them back thereafter and they fell 31 runs short.Lahore had also made a strong start in their innings, with openers Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad scoring 51 in 7.2 overs. KamranAkmal scored 59 off 33 deliveries to push them to 148 before falling in the 17th over. His younger brother Umar scored a quick 22 to take them to 186.Lahore took their first wicket in the seventh over, when left-arm spinner Mustafa Iqbal dismissed Azam. From 99 for 1, Abbottabad lost three wickets for six runs. Although middle-order batsman Khalid Usman scored a quick 27, it wasn’t enough.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsKamran Hussain’s crucial unbeaten 23 and Kashif Siddiq’s three wickets helped Bhawalpur Stags to a comfortable 29-run victory against Peshwar Panthers at Bagh-e-Jinnah in Lahore.Batting first, Bhawalpur slipped to 22 for 3, but a fourth-wicket partnership of 63 between Usman Tariq and captain Bilal Khilji repaired the damage. Wickets fell regularly thereafter, but Kamran’s quick knock helped set a target of 135.Peshawar were never in control of the chase. Besides opener Iftikhar Ahmed and No. 3 Mohammad Rizwan, who put on 26 runs for the second wicket, only wicketkeeper Gauhar Ali scored in double digits. Peshawar lost their last seven wickets for 32 runs to lose by a fair margin.
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsLahore Eagles, after scoring 224 against Hyderabad Hawks on Saturday, were bowled out for 103 by Faisalabad Wolves in Lahore. Faisalabad mildly stuttered in their chase as Mohammad Khalil and Raza Ali Dar took two wickets each to give them a scare. But opener Farrukh Shehzad, who scored 47, steered Faisalabad to a five-wicket win.Lahore, after being put in to bat, lost wickets regularly. Imran Farhat top-scored with 20, but Lahore were bowled out quickly as they lost their last eight wickets for 52 runs.
ScorecardAn aggressive 34 by lower-order batsman Imad Wasim took Islamabad Leopards to within five runs of victory against Karachi Zebras. Karachi were in control throughout their opponents’ chase, as a combined bowling performance helped them reduce Islamabad to 76 for 8 in the 17th over. Wasim changed the course of the contest, but couldn’t give his side the win.Islamabad’s Iftikhar Anjum claimed four wickets to peg Karachi back when they batted after winning the toss. No one scored more than 36, but there were four other batsmen who struck crucial partnerships and help them go past the 120-run mark. It proved to be enough in the end.