Vanthali A XI Vs Karachi Fighters (15th Challengers Cup)
Ikhtiyar Shah's heroics helped his side beat Vanthali A in a one side encounter by 3 wickets.
Vanthali batted first and were off to a terrible start losing both their openers quite early in the game but after their dismissal, Kamil and Shehzad steadied the ship and batted sensibly. Kamil was playing more of a second fiddle role whereas Shehzad took the initiative to up the run rate as he smashed bowlers all around the park during his brilliant innings of 60 of just 44 balls. Karachi Fighters then came back strongly by first picking up Shehzad and Kamil and later exposing the lower middle order with their brilliant bowling. The much needed cameo from lower order was provided by Mansoor with his 24 of just 15. Fahim picked up 3 wickets and was by far the best bowler in the innings.
With 152 to chase, Karachi Fighters had an early setback when just like Vanthali their first 3 wickets were dismissed cheaply. The innings was in deep hole before Ikhtiyar came in. He came, he dominated and he won his side the game single handedly. The way he was playing it looked as though he was playing on a different pitch. He played with a sense of responsibility knowing that he had to take his side over the line, and he did that with his astonishing innings of 71. In the end Karachi Fighters chased the target comfortably in just 18.1 overs.
