Stallions down Royals by 15 runs in high-scoring encounter
Stallions posted a mammoth 211/6 after opting to bat first
News Desk
08 August, 2021
PHOTO COURTESY: KPL
Bagh Stallions beat Mirpur Royals by 15 runs in a high-scoring encounter on Sunday in the Kashmir Premier League (KPL).
Chasing a target of 212 runs, Royals lost their opener in the first over as Mukhtar Ahmed was bowled by Aamir Yamin for a duck.
Royals had no time to settle down as Sharjeel Khan and Muhammad Akhlaq went into the attack mode from the get go. Both openers took a particular liking to Muhammad Ilyas. Sharjeel hit two sixes in Ilyas’ first over, before Akhlaq accumulated 23 runs in the pacer’s second over, courtesy of three sixes and a four.
Sharjeel Khan hit a six off Umaid Asif in the 11th over to bring up his fifty in just 31 balls. Akhlaq also completed his fifty in 30 balls in the same over. However, Umaid got his revenge in the same over with Sharjeel getting caught by Zeeshan Malik for 57.
After Sharjeel’s departure, Royals kept losing wickets at regular intervals, which increased the required run rate. Amir Sohail struck crucial blows in the 16th over, when he removed well-set Akhlaq for 68 and Amad Butt for a duck.
Royals needed their most senior batsman and captain Shoaib Malik to stand up but he could muster only 11 runs before getting dismissed by Umaid Asif, who also picked up two wickets.
Salman Irshad hit Ilyas for a four and a six in the final over, but it wasn’t enough as Royals finished with 196/8 in their 20 overs.
Earlier, Stallions were dealt an early blow after opting to bat first as they also lost Zeeshan Malik in the first over of the innings for a duck. He was trapped lbw by Mohammad Irfan.
Shan Masood stitched an important 90-run partnership with Rohail Nazir. The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 36 before he was clean bowled by Salman Irshad.
Masood found an able ally in Asad Shafiq and kept on building a perfect platform to launch an attack. The left-hander played a brilliant 78-run knock in just 45 balls. The opener was removed by Amad Butt in the 15th over, after which Asad Shafiq carried the mantle and did the bulk of scoring.
The middle-order batsman scored a blistering half century in 21 balls to follow his unbeaten 43-run from yesterday. Shafiq scored 55 and was dismissed by Irshad, who picked up three wickets.
A late 30-run cameo from 15 balls by Aamir Yamin helped Stallions post a mammoth 211/6.