Debutants Layyah in final of Lahore Qalandars’ Rising Stars tournament

KARACHI: An unbeaten and match-winning knock by Sikandar Khan has guided Layyah to the final of Lahore Qalandars’ Rising Stars tournament.

Sikandar smashed four sixes and stroked four boundaries to score 66 off 30 deliveries to help tournament-debutants Layyah reach target of 177 with five balls remaining and four wickets in hands.

Earlier, Rawalpindi scored 176 runs for the loss of five wickets after they were put in to bat first by Layyah.

Sohail Ahmed smashed one six and four boundaries to score 39 off 18 deliveries, Rohail added 29 towards end of the innings to put a respectable total on board for Rawalpindi. Opener Zeeshan Malik scored 38 runs to give his team a good start.

But, the efforts by Rawalpindi batsmen to put 176 runs on board didn’t prove enough for its bowlers to defend, despite some good efforts with ball by Kamran Ghulam.

Ghulam took three wickets for 23 runs in four overs, but other bowlers couldn’t do much for Rawalpindi as Layyah reached the target in 19.1 overs.

Sikandar Khan remained top scorer with an unbeaten 66, Usman Khalid scored 32 runs.

With the four wickets win against Rawalpindi, Layyah becomes first team to qualify for the final of Lahore Qalandars Rising Stars tournament.

The second semi final will be played on Saturday between Sargodha and Faisalabad.