The suspicious innings Shakeel Ansar and Shahid Yousaf led Sialkot Stallions into the semi-finals of Faisal Bank Super Eight Tournament, after they slapped already kicked-out Islamabad Leopards by 4 wickets at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad on Wednesday where they will take on Karachi Dolphins in the second semi-final tomorrow.

With Nauman Masood 47, Leopards set a challenging target of 170 but Stallions got their goal after a sensational game, with five balls to spare. Islamabad Leopards will go to home with blank hands.

Sialkot Stallions VS Islamabad Leopards: Islamabad Innings

According to details, Islamabad Leopards’ skipper Rao Ifkhar Anjum won the toss and elected to bat first on the track on which support for bowlers was anticipated.

The opponent skipper Shoaib Malik impelled Leopards early in trouble by edging Raheel Majeed to wicketkeeper Shakeel Ansar.

But opener Nauman Masood along with one-down Fakhar Hussain batted aggressively and stitched speedy 58 runs in the joint collaboration.

Abdur Raheem separated the pair by eliminating Nouman Masood (47) and Afaq Raheem (3) within 3 balls. Masood’s innings was comprised of five balls and three gigantic sixes.

The new couple Naeem Anjum and Shan Masood revived the fortunes in Islamabad’s dressing room by adding 49 runs for sixth wicket.

Due batsmen went runout for 30 and 23 runs reactively.

Mansoor Amjad sacked Ameer Khan for 11 while Sarmad Anwar dismissed Iftakhar Anjum for 2.

At the end of 20 overs, Leopards’ total on the scoreboard was 170-9.

Sialkot Stallions VS Islamabad Leopards: Sialkot Innings

The start of Sialkot innings was disappointing too as Saad Altaf eliminated Imran Nazir for duck in the second over while Iftikhar Anjum nabbed Mansoor Amjad for 5.

Saad Altaf made the situation more critical for Sialkot by nabbing Abdur Rehman for 9, which left Stallions 31-3.

Shahid Yousuf and Shakeel Ansar led the recovery of their side and added 62 mutual runs before Iftikhar Anjum seized Shahid Yousaf for 41, by taking the help of Saad Altaf, who took a great catch at mid-on.

But Ansar was not disappointed, he stirred to amplify Islamabad’s total on the scoreboard, along with his crease partner Shoaib Mailk.

The superb demonstration of Shakeel Ansar was winded-up by Zohib Ahmed for 55, during which he guided five boundaries and two splendid sixes.
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Shoaib Malik was the last man to go for Sialkot, he managed 20 off 13 balls.

Ali Khan accumulated stormy 22 off 9 balls which were enough for Shoaib-XI to script 4-wicket victory in 19.1 overs.

To remount esteem to Shakeel Anwer for a superb match-winning innings, he was rewarded Player of the Man Award.