KARACHI: Table-toppers Clifton Popular will take on Malir Malangs in the Karachi Tape Ball Premier League (KTPL) Season 4 final, scheduled to be played here at the Moin Khan Academy on Sunday.
The Malangs were the first to qualify for the eight-team tournament’s final after securing a comfortable 26-run victory over North Nawabs in the first semi-final here at the same venue on Saturday.
Opting to bat first, the Malangs registered a commendable total of 101/3 in their first innings, thanks to Umar Bajwa’s half-century.
The opening batter remained the top-scorer for the Malangs with an 18-ball 52, comprised of two fours and six sixes, while Abdul Rehman chipped in with a five-ball 22 down the order.
In response, the Nawabs could score 96/6 in their allotted six overs and thus succumbed to a narrow five-run deficit.
Middle-order batter Yahya Khan (21) was the top-scorer for the Nawabs in the first innings, followed by opener Sarmad Hameed, who made a seven-ball 19.
Skipper Majid Ali was the pick of the bowlers for the Malangs, taking three wickets for 34 runs in his two overs, while Hazrat Umar and Safi Ullah made one scalp apiece.
Leading by six runs, a strong performance by the top-order led the Malangs to a massive total of 129/1 in the second innings and setting the Nawabs a daunting 135-run target.
M Jahangir Awan was the top-scorer for the Malangs, scoring an unbeaten 53 off 14 deliveries, studded with two fours and seven sixes, while Mimran Khan made 48 not out from 15 balls with the help of four fours and five sixes.
Chasing 135, the Nawabs fell short by 26 runs despite Sarmad’s blistering half-century.
The opening batter smashed one four and eight sixes on his way to top score with an 18-ball 59 until his dismissal in the fourth over.
The rest of the Nawabs’ batters failed to continue the momentum with the next-best score being a 15-ball 25 by their skipper Haris Ali Khan.
Majid led the Nawabs’ bowling charge in the second innings as well, picking up two wickets for 32 runs in his two overs.
For his bowling exploits, Majid was adjudged the player of the match in the first semi-final.
In the second semi-final, Clifton Popular edged out spirited Gulshan Gabroos to set up KTPL Season 4 final with the Malangs.
