KARACHI: Right-arm pacer Mohammad Hasnain first-innings’ hat-trick powered DHA Dabangs to a resounding nine-wicket victory over Karachi Knights in the 15th match of the Karachi Tape Ball Premier League (KTPL) Season 4 here at the Moin Khan Academy on Saturday.
Put into bat first, the Knights only managed to score 60/7 in six overs despite skipper Safi Ullah’s fighting 36-run knock.
The opening batter waged a lone battle with a gutsy 36 off 15 deliveries, laced with four fours and three sixes, while the rest of the Knights’ batters failed to amass double figures.
Hasnain was the standout bowler for the Dabangs in the first innings, taking four wickets including a hat-trick, which came in the fourth over.
In response, the Dabangs accumulated 70/6 in their allotted six overs and thus attained a bleak 10-run lead.
Opener Khurram Shahzad Chakwal remained the top-scorer for the Dabangs with an 11-ball 25, followed by Waqas, who made 12 off nine deliveries down the order.
Fazal Ur Rehman led the Knights’ bowling charge with two wickets, while AB Salamo bagged two.
Trailing by 10 runs, the Knights put on a decent show with the bat in the second innings as they scored 84/3 to set the Dabangs a commendable 75-run target.
Top-order batter Para Din top-scored in the second innings for the Knights with an unbeaten 27 from 13 deliveries, while openers Kamran Arif and Safi contributed with 21 each.
For the Dabangs, Hasnain and Salman Khan Sallu made one scalp apiece in the second innings.
Chasing a 74-run target, the Dabangs comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of just one wicket and 17 balls to spare, thanks to a blistering knock by skipper Khurram.
The opening batter smashed two fours and five sixes on his way to an unbeaten 39 from just 10 balls and steered his side over the line in a commanding manner.
He was supported by Arsalan Jamshed, who made 19 off five.
The nine-wicket victory lifted DHA Dabangs to the fourth position in the KTPL Season 4 standings with four points in four matches, while Karachi Knights remained at the bottom with three points in three matches.
- Mohammad Hasnain
