Sialkot Stallions win National T20 Cup

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Sialkot Stallions win National T20 Cup

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Sialkot Stallions defeated Rawalpindi Rams by 10 runs to win National T20 title for 6th time.

03 October,2011 07:44 am

The final of the National Twenty20 Cup was played at the National Stadium Karachi on Sunday. Sialkot Stallion chose to bat on a pitch that produced high scores throughout the tournament and made a quick start. Imran Nazir and Shakeel Ansar looted 13 runs off Soahil Tanvirs first over, and after Nazir departed Ansar and Qaiser Abbas put together 85 for the second wicket. Rawalpindi Rams bowlers bowled full lengths, and Qaiser timed his drives sweetly. The pair took the score to 100 for 1 in the 12th over, but both batsmen fell in the space of five balls, to Awais Zias part-time offspin. Both went attempting big shots: Qaiser was stumped after charging down the track and Ansar chipped in the air to deep midwicket.That brought Shoaib Malik and Shahid Yousuf together, fresh from a 127-run stand in the semi-finals against Lahore. Yousuf hit the first three balls of Zias next over into the off side for fours, and Malik continued the form he was in during his 88 not out against Lahore. Rawalpindi did well to concede just 10 runs off the last two overs, but 180 was a tough total to chase.Rawalpindi Ram’s chase got off to an explosive start, with Zia smacking five fours in the first over, and two sixes in the second. Zias innings was cut short on 32 off 13 balls, when he swept Hasan to deep square leg. While other bowlers struggled to concede fewer than seven runs an over, Hasan had figures of 4-0-11-2. He choked the runs by varying the flight and lengths of his deliveries while maintaining a tight line.The rest of Sialkots bowlers werent as accurate and Rawalpindis opener Naved Malik picked his moments to attack. Rawalpindi managed to stay abreast of the required-rate for most of the chase but lost wickets regularly. When Naved was caught at deep midwicket for 67, Rawalpindi needed 36 off 23 balls with five wickets in hand. In the 17th over, Hammad Azam smashed a six over long-on and lofted over extra-cover for four off consecutive balls. Nineteen were required off the last two overs, but it was Hasan that had had the final say, bowling a tight over to ensure a Sialkot win.