KARACHI: Asad Shah’s unbeaten half-century in the first innings, led Clifton Popular to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over DHA Dabangs in the opening match of the Karachi Tape Ball Premier League (KTPL) Season 4 here at the Moin Khan Academy here on Saturday.
Batting first, the Dabangs accumulated 103/2 in their first innings, thanks to a dominant 81-run opening partnership between skipper Taimoor Mirza and Arsalan Jamshed.
The opening pair dominated the Popular’s bowlers until Ali Imran got rid of Arsalan before dismissing Shah Raza for a golden duck on the next delivery.
Arsalan smashed three fours and four sixes on his way to a 16-ball 40.
Meanwhile, Taimoor stood his ground firm and bolstered the Dabangs’ total by smashing 22 runs off the final. He remained the top-scorer for his side in the first innings with an unbeaten 53 off 20 deliveries, hitting one four and six sixes.
In response, the Popular amassed 139/1 and secured a handy 36-run lead, courtesy of an unbeaten 87-run partnership for the second wicket between skipper Asad and Hassan Qadeer.
Asad was the core aggressor of the match-defining stand, scoring 51 off just 16 deliveries, while Qadeer contributed with a 13-ball 46.
Muhammad Hasnain picked up the solitary wicket for the Dabangs in the first innings.
Trailing by 36 runs, the Dabangs could score 98/3 in the second innings and thus set Popular a modest 63-run target.
Taimoor top-scored for the Dabangs in the second innings as well with his 12-ball 31. He was followed by Shah Raza, who made 28 off 10 deliveries.
Set to chase 63, a combined batting effort led Popular to comfortably knock the winning runs for the loss of just three wickets and seven balls to spare.
Asad Shah backed his first-innings half-century with a five-ball 14, while Hassan Qadeer (13), Waseem Lefti (11*) and Fahad Mian Chunnu (10) also made notable contributions.
For his match-winning effort, Asad was adjudged the player of the match.