Rawalpindi Rams knockout Peshawar Panthers to reach final

KARACHI: Defending champions Rawalpindi Rams outclassed Peshawar Panthers by 77 runs to reach the final of the Faysal Bank National Twenty20 Cup here in the day-night match at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing 169 runs, Peshawar Panthers were bundled out for a mere total of 91 runs in 16 overs.

Except three batsmen – Rafatullah Mohmand (33), Gohar Ali (16) and Nauman Habib (10) - nobody could get into double figures for the Panthers.

Umar Amin and Hammad Azam captured three wickets each for 14 and 21 runs, respectively, while Mohammad Rameez got two wickets.

Earlier, Rawalpindi Rams were all out for 168 runs in 19.5 overs after captain Sohail Tanvir won the toss and elected to bat.

The main scorers of the Rams were Umar Amin (30), Sohail Tanvir (26), Naved Malik (25) and Babar Naeem (21).

Zohaib Khan with three wickets for 36 runs was the most successful bowler for the Panthers while Nauman Habib and Noor-ul-Amin took two wickets each.

In the final to be played tomorrow, Rawalpindi Rams will fight to defend their title against Sialkot Stallions, the five-time champions, who defeated Lahore Eagles by six wickets in the semi-finals.