- Scorecard available here
- Match photographs available here
Karachi, 9 December 2023: Karachi Whites advanced to the final of AH Group presents Jazz Super 4G National T20 Cup 2023-24 as they beat Rawalpindi by four wickets in the second semi-final. They will take on Abbottabad in the final on Sunday at National Bank Stadium, Karachi. The toss will take place at 1930 PKT and the first ball will be bowled at 2000 PKT.
Earlier in the evening, Rawalpindi won the toss and elected to bat first. Shahnawaz Dahani struck with the new ball as he dismissed the out-of-form Haider Ali (2, 4b). The other opener Yasir Khan (8, 10b, 1x6) failed to get going as well even after clubbing one six. Umar Amin walked into bat during the fifth over and finished with an unbeaten 82 from 47 balls comprising of nine boundaries and three maximums.
Zeeshan Malik (32, 34b, 1x4, 2x6s) and Mohammad Nawaz (35, 17b, 4x4s, 2x6s) played around Umar as they contributed towards keeping the innings together. Rawalpindi hit a total of 14 boundaries and eight towering sixes that took them to 177-5. Karachi Whites used seven bowlers but only Shahnawaz Dahani, Sohail Khan and Danish Aziz managed to get a breakthrough for their team.
Karachi Whites’ pursuit of the chase was intentful as Khurram Manzoor bludgeoned his way to a five-ball 18 before being dismissed in the first over. Ammad Alam continued the charge as he smoked three sixes in his 19-ball stay at the crease accumulating 24 runs.
Mehran Mumtaz struck in back-to-back overs to jolt Karachi Whites’ momentum. The departure of Omair Bin Yousuf (25, 22b, 1x4, 1x6) and Danish Aziz (22, 14b, 1x4, 1x6) in a space of four overs tilted the balance of the game.
Azam Khan (38, 25b, 2x4s, 3x6s) took the game in Karachi Whites’ favour as he launched a barrage of boundaries against Bilawal Bhatti in the 16th over, ransacking 20 runs. The baton was then passed to veteran Anwar Ali, who showcased glimpses of his heydays with an unbeaten 15-ball 25 hitting two sixes and one four.
Sohail Khan befittingly hit the winning runs as Karachi Whites got over the line with 11 balls to spare. Kashif Ali and Bilawal Bhatti conceded 89 runs in their six overs taking only one wicket. Azam Khan was declared player of the match for his breezy knock.
Scores in brief:
Karachi Whites beat Rawalpindi by four wickets
Rawalpindi 177-5, 20 overs (Umar Amin 82 not out, Mohammad Nawaz 35, Zeeshan Malik 32; Sohail Khan 2-21, Shahnawaz Dahani 2-33, Danish Aziz 1-12)
Karachi Whites 178-6, 18.1 overs (Azam Khan 38, Anwar Ali 25 not out, Omair Bin Yousuf 25; Mehran Mumtaz 2-17, Jahandad Khan 2-25, Mubasir Khan 1-5, Kashif Ali 1-50)
Player of the match – Azam Khan (Karachi Whites)
