File Photo - Misbah-ul-Haq thumped five fours and sixes each © BCCI
Misbah-ul-Haq, coming in at No.5, slammed a 27-ball 67 to power Faisalabad Wolves to 183 for 6 and set up a seven-run D/L win against Multan Tigers in Faisalabad. Misbah's blitz came at a crucial time, as his fifty meant that Tigers had to chase the big score at more than nine an over right from the off, and despite a late surge from Naved Yasin - 69 not out off 31 balls - the visitors found themselves seven runs short when rain forced a premature end to the game in the 17th over.
After electing to bat, Wolves were 76 for 2 at the halfway stage of their innings, but Misbah whacked five fours and sixes each, including 16 off an over from Sadaif Mehdi, to wrest the advantage. Mehdi conceded 59 runs in his four overs without picking up a wicket.
Tigers found themselves at 32 for 3 in the fifth over of the chase, losing their top three batsmen to Mohammad Talha. Yasin and Aftab Niazi led a recovery with a 65-run stand for the fourth wicket, but while Yasin stroked two fours and seven sixes, Niazi could only hit 25 runs from his 30 deliveries. It proved crucial in the end, as their slightly lower run-rate coupled with the intervention of rain, allowed Wolves to walk away with two points.
The downpour in Faisalabad also meant that the clash between Karachi Dolphins and Lahore Lions was abandoned without a ball being bowled.