KARACHI: Opening batters Sarmad Hameed and Zain Lefty steered North Nawabs to a thumping eight-wicket victory over Malir Malangs in the 25th match of the Karachi Tape Ball Premier League (KTPL) Season 4 here at the Moin Khan Academy on Thursday.
Opting to bat first, the Malangs racked up a decent total of 94/2 in the first innings, thanks to an unbeaten half-century by opening batter Mimran Khan.
The right-handed batter struck four fours and five sixes on his way to a 21-ball 52 and top-scored for the Malangs.
He was also involved in a recovering 88-run partnership for the third wicket with Syed Nasir, who made 37 not out from 13 balls, laced with four sixes and a four.
In response, the Nawabs’ openers Sarmad and Zain came out all guns blazing and led their side to 147/0 in the allotted six overs.
Sarmad was the core aggressor of the unbeaten stand, scoring 69 not out from 19 deliveries, studded with eight sixes and three fours, while Zain struck four sixes and as many fours on his way to an 18-ball 45.
Trailing by 53 runs, the Malangs could score 96 for the loss of three wickets in their second innings and thus set Nawabs a meagre 44-run target.
Top-order batter M Jahangir Awan remained the top-scorer for the Malangs in the second innings with a 13-ball 42, while skipper Umar Bajwa made 27 from 11 balls.
For Nawabs, Hassan Raza, Jawad and Sehram made one scalp apiece.
Chasing a modest target, the Nawabs comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just two wickets and nine balls to spare.
Top-order batter Irfan Nazir top-scored for the Nawabs with an 11-ball 20, while opening batter Zain made a run-a-ball 10.
The eight-wicket victory lifted North Nawabs to third in the KTPL Season 4 standings with 10 points in seven matches, while Malir Malangs remained at the second, boasting similar record.