Faysal Bank Super Eight T-20 Tournament - - Rawalpindi Rams Emerged as the New Twenty20 Champion After Beating Karachi Dolphins in 'Super Over'

Rawalpindi Rams: The New Twenty20 Champion

FAISALABAD, Pakistan (July 1) – Rawalpindi Rams becomes the new Twenty20 champion after beating Karachi Dolphins in the final of the Faysal Bank Super Eight T-20 Tournament today here at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.

The winner was decided by Super Over, after the match was tied at 164 in the allotted 20 overs. Sohail KhanSohail Khan, the top wicket taker of the tournament, bowled the Super Over from Karachi Dolphins and gave away 16 runs. Awais Zia smashed two boundaries, a six and a couple.

Raza Hasan bowled the Super Over for Rawalpindi Rams to Khalid Latif and Rameez Raja (Jr.). Khalid Latif got out after hitting six on the first ball. Shahzaib Hasan replaced Khalid Latif. Shahzaib Hasan couldn’t score any run on the last three balls of the Super Over. Karachi Dolphins just managed 7 runs in this Super Over.

Earlier Rawalpindi Rams won the toss and invited Karachi Dolphins to bat first. Rameez Raja, player of the match in the yesterday’s semifinal against Sialkot Stallions, played another good knock of 64 runs for Dolphins. Asad Shafiq also contributed with 36 runs. Kalid Latif’s unbeaten innings of 36 runs helped Karachi Dolphins to set a target of 165 for the loss of 5 wickets in allotted 20 overs.

Raza Hasan was the only successful bowler for Rawalpindi Rams. He claimed 3 wickets in his 4 overs conceding 24 runs. Two of the Dolphins’ batsmen fell prey to excellent fielding by Rawalpindi Rams.

Rawalpindi Rams also had a shaky start losing Naved Malik (8) and Jamal Anwar (0) cheaply. Awais Zia played a good knock of 43 runs of just 20 balls that helped ease early pressure exerted by Karachi Dolphins’ bowlers led by experienced Muhammad Sami, Tanvir Ahmed and Sohail Khan.

Umar Amin played an anchor role and led his team to an impressive victory. He made unbeaten 32 runs and got involve in most crucial partnerships with Adnan Mufti (31), Hammad Azam (23) and Muhammad Rameez (14).

Sohail Khan once again bowled brilliantly and claimed five precious wickets; while Azam Hussain’s 2 wickets in the last over took the match to the Super Over and Rawalpindi Rams emerged as the eventual winner of the tournament.

Sohail Khan was named man of the match for his five wicket haul in the final. He became also the highest wicket taker in the tournament with his 14 wickets.