Sialkot Stallions win the Final of the Faysal Bank Super 8 T20 Tournament with sterling performances from Shoaib Malik and Haris Sohail - Read our review of the match action.

By Shayan (1st April , 2012)

 

Karachi Dolphins Innings:

Two domestic giants squared up in a replay of both the 2007 and 2008 T20 finals. Karachi won the toss and elected to bat, hoping that Shahzaib Hasan could continue from his devastating performance in the semi-final. He did not disappoint, crashing his way to 30 off just 12 balls, including 17 off Raza Hasan's first over, as Shoaib Malik's plan to open with a spinner backfired spectacularly.

Umaid Asif persisted with sticking to his line and length and was eventually rewarded. He got Shahzaib Hasan to sky the ball straight up and into Ali Khan's hands. Khalid Latif continued the pummeling ways as he continued stroking the ball around the park. In no time, Latif had already piled on 24 runs off 15 deliveries.

Just as Karachi were looking in ominous touch and it appeared as if they were going to run away with the show, a mistake was made. A run out due to serious miscommunication between the two batsmen. A misfield by the Sialkot Stallions led to the run out as Latif didn't want the run and Rameez Raja did. In the end, the entire play ended with both batsmen at the same end of the pitch and Rameez Raja was sent packing for an early demise.

With that wicket of Rameez Raja Jr., the Sialkot Stallions slowly started exerting pressure on the Dolphins' lineup. Despite, Khalid Latif batting well, the run rate was decreasing compared to the riveting beginning. Asad Shafiq was trying to get a feel of the match and patiently eased himself into the proceedings. This meant the Karachi Dolphins were at 92/2 after the 11th over.

The pitch was extremely flat and it became noticeable as the innings progressed. The Karachi Dolphins were batting with ease and were piling on the runs despite some pressure being exerted. Khalid Latif kept putting the bowlers away for boundaries and eventually reached fifty. Asad Shafiq continued playing his own game by pushing the ball around and kept bringing on the in-form Latif on strike. The goal was to put in place a great launching pad and that was what they had at 138/2 after the 16th over.

It was time for the Karachi Dolphins to start smashing sixes and fours. In the beginning of the remaining four overs, this is exactly what Khalid Latif did. However, the bowlers got some respite as a run out was created and Asad Shafiq was sent back to the pavilion. In came Sheheryar Ghani, a man who can hit the long ball, but he could not survive. Rana Naved ul Hasan got him to miss one and it hit him plumb in front of the stumps. Karachi were left on 154/4 after 18 overs. They had two overs to do some final damage.

Sarfraz Ahmed came into the final two overs with one thing on his mind and that was to slog each ball. He had some success with this method as he sent one delivery sailing into the stands. Just as he was getting his eye in, Raza Hasan was brought into bowl the final over.

Raza is known to be a great death bowler even at this young age and he forced Ahmed into missing one. Mohammad Sami, the Karachi Dolphins skipper came in and was quickly sent back after playing a poor stroke. Raza was not done there as he picked up another two wickets with Tanvir Ahmed top edging one and Haaris Ayaz edging another one. In the end, Raza bowled a terrific over and picked up four wickets in it. His final figures were a brilliant 4/33.

Karachi Dolphins ended up on a satisfactory 167/8, but would have hoped to make more on this flat track.


Fall of wickets:
1-38 (Shahzaib Hasan, 2.5 ov),
2-63 (Rameez Raja, 5.5 ov),
3-153 (Asad Shafiq, 17.4 ov),
4-154 (Sheharyar Ghani, 17.6 ov),
5-166 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 19.2 ov),
6-166 (Mohammad Sami, 19.3 ov)
7-167 (Tanvir Ahmed, 19.5 ov),
8-167 (Haaris Ayaz, 19.6 ov)



Sialkot Stallions Innings:

The dynamic Imran Nazir and the centurion from the semi-final, Shakeel Ansar strode out to the middle to get the second innings underway. Shakeel began well, taking 6 off Mohammad Sami's first 2 deliveries. Disaster then struck though, as a comical mixup between the two batsmen left them both at the bowlers end, and the wicketkeeper Sarfraz completed a simple run out to send Shakeel back to the pavilion.

Nazir rode his luck in the second over, lofting a shot just over mid-off before being dropped at fine leg. It looked like he would make Karachi pay as he took 23 from the next two overs. Karachi soon turned to spin, but Faraz Ahmed's first ball was launched down the ground for 6 by Nazir. His second ball, a short long hop, also looked set to go the distance, but the batsman inexplicably missed it and the ball crashed into the stumps. A vital breakthrough for Sialkot as Nazir was threatening to take the game away from them.

The captain, Shoaib Malik, joined Haris Sohail at the crease with over 100 still required for victory. Some tight bowling from the spinners pushed the required run rate back up above 8, before Haris Sohail released the pressure with a splendid straight 6. At 89-2 after 10 overs, the games was finely poised.

The two batsmen continued to keep the scoreboard ticking, with Shoaib Malik's experience proving vital to the situation. Haris Sohail provided further evidence of his potential as he stroked a gorgeous cover drive in Tanvir Ahmed's third over, as Sialkot looked to be edging themselves in front. Another boundary in the 13th over left the batting side needing 53 off 42 balls to take the title.

Karachi's captain, Sami, brought himself back on to try and break the 66 run partnership that had developed. Haris continued to bat very sensibly however, picking up a boundary before taking a single, showing experience beyond his years, clearly influenced by the calming presence of his captain at the other end. With 39 needed off the last 5 overs, Sialkot were in control.

The next over was the one in which Malik broke the shackles. A cut for 4 over point was followed by a blistering strike down the ground, before a fine glide past the keeper brought up his 50 and the third boundary of the over, as the required run rate dropped below 6. Two more boundaries in the next over took Haris to 49, and the Stallions were now charging towards the finish line.

He brought up his 50 in the next over, and another cracking straight drive for 4 left just 3 runs required for victory. Just to rub further salt into the Karachi wounds, Haris was dropped looking to seal victory, but Malik made no mistake as the next ball was pulled for 4, and Sialkot took the title!

Two fabulous innings from Pakistan's former captain and a potential rising star took Sialkot to a well deserved title. Karachi had no answer to the two batsmen, and their unbeaten partnership of 119 was the difference between the two sides. The Dolphins will be disappointed to have finished runners up yet again, but the Stallions will feel they have regained their rightful spot as T20 champions.

Fall of wickets

1-6 (Shakeel Ansar, 0.3 ov),
2-51 (Imran Nazir, 5.2 ov)