Peshawar: Top-order batsmen Shahzaib Khan and Kamran Ghulam hit fifties as Abbottabad beat Karachi Blues by eight wickets in a successful chase of 202 runs in the seventh match of the National T20 Trophy at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Batting first, Karachi Blues scored 201 for 4 in 20 overs thanks to a blistering half-century from right-arm opener Ahsan Ali.
He was the top scorer for the 2016 champions with 67 off 36 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes.
He was supported by fellow opener Jahanzaib Sultan with a 29-ball 42, while wicket-keeper batsman Usman Khan scored a 25-ball 40.
Abbottabad’s bowlers included Shadab Khan who took 2 for 32 in his four overs, while Shahab Khan and Arshad Iqbal claimed a wicket each.
Chasing a tough target of 202, Abbottabad were down two wickets with 20 balls to spare, helped by a century-plus second-wicket partnership between Shahzaib and Ghulam.
The in-form duo made a stunning comeback for Abbottabad after their opener Sajjad Ali Hashmi (one) was dismissed with just 18 runs on the board by adding a blistering 115 for the second wicket.
Khalil Ahmed finally broke the match-defining partnership by dismissing Shahzaib for 75 off 38 balls with 11 fours and 3 sixes.
Following his dismissal, Ghulam teamed up with all-rounder Khushdil Shah and the duo eventually put Abbottabad over the line in an unbeaten 70-run partnership in the 17th over.
Ghulam scored an unbeaten 81 off 42 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes while Khushtil scored an unbeaten 38 off 16 balls with 4 fours and 2 sixes.
Jahandad Khan and Khalil could take a wicket each for Karachi Blues.
Abbottabad’s eight-wicket win over Karachi Blues helped them clinch the top spot in Group B of the National T20 Cup as the team now has four points from two matches.