CRICKET – SHAHEEN Group emerged victorious against Awali Camels to clinch a spot in the final of the T20 Super KHK League Division B.
After winning the toss, the Camels elected to bowl, but despite a spirited chase, they fell short by nine runs, handing Shaheen Group a hard-earned victory.
Shaheen Group posted a modest total of 140/9 in their allotted 20 overs, a score built on crucial middle-order contributions. Opening batter Abubakar Sayeed (13 off 12 balls) got the team off to a solid start but was dismissed early by Muhammad Saud Irfan. Asif Mumtaz played a pivotal role, scoring 18 off 15 balls, before falling to Mohamed Waqas.
The middle-order experienced a few setbacks, with Faisal Khan (six) and Mohammad Irfan (six) departing cheaply, but Natique Abdul and Subash Saroj provided the backbone for the innings.
Abdul made 25 off 25 balls, while Saroj’s 32 from 24 deliveries kept the scoreboard ticking.
A key moment came from Pankaj Pandey, whose aggressive 27 off just 14 balls, including one six, brought the total closer to the 140 mark.
Asif Nana (three) and Atiullah Shah (zero) both fell in quick succession, but the total of 140 was still deemed a modest competitive total.
In response, the Camels got off to a promising start with Yasir Adnan (18 off 10) showing early aggression, including a pair of sixes. However, their hopes took a hit when Asif Mumtaz bowled a brilliant spell, claiming three wickets for 19 runs in his four overs.
Mumtaz dismissed Yasir, Mohamed Waqas (four), and Qadar Gul (three), putting the pressure firmly on the home team.
Despite a solid knock from Muzammil Tajir, who top-scored with 49 runs off 40 balls, the Camels struggled to maintain momentum.
Sai Vaddiraju (24) and Mohamed Ishtiaq (17) did their best to keep the chase alive, but crucial run outs and wickets fell at regular intervals, including Gulfam Rauf and Abhishek Singhal, who were dismissed without scoring.
With the target slipping away, the Camels were restricted to 131 in the 20th over, thanks to some disciplined bowling in death overs from shaheen group quicks.
Shaheen Group will next face Sky Kings in the final.
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