LAHORE: Afnan Khan’s hat-trick in the final over, powered Rawalpindi Raiders to successfully defend a 55-run target in five overs against Hyderabad Hunters in a rain-hit eighth match of the ongoing Pakistan Junior League (PJL) on Tuesday.
The Hunters had to chase a revised 55-run target in five overs after a thunderstorm intervened and halted the action when the Raiders were 125/4 in the 16th over.
Set to chase a paltry total, the Hunters were off to a poor start as they were four down for 19 in two overs.
Afnan then bowled a magnificent third over to firm his side’s grip on the game as he leaked away just six runs to leave Hunters needing 30 off 12.
Needing 16 off the final over, Afnan dismantled the Hunters’ hopes of clinching the victory as the left-arm spinner conceded a single run and took the first-ever hat-trick of the league to power his side to glory.
FIRST HAT-TRICK OF PJL 🤩
Afnan Khan is the name 👏🏼 #Next11 l #PJL I #HHvRR pic.twitter.com/xyheYymJzi— Pakistan Junior League (@ThePJLofficial) October 11, 2022
Hunters finished their disappointing five-over run chase at 40/8.
Batting first, Habibullah and Hassan Eisakhil provided a solid start to the raiders as the pair accumulated 63 in the first five overs.
Habibullah then charged on the right-arm pacer, Fahad Amin, as he accumulated 32 runs for the Raiders in the fourth over of the match.
Hunters then found a moment to cherish when Muneeb Wasif trapped Habibullah in his legs to provide his side with a much-needed breakthrough. The right-handed batter scored 38 off 21 balls, laced with two boundaries and four sixes.
Following Habibullah’s dismissal, Hassan took the responsibility for his side and continued to challenge the Hunters’ bowling attack with clean hitting down the ground.
Mohammad Zubair Jnr’s two direct-hit run-outs then brought his side back into the game as the dismissals of Wahaj Riaz (11) and Kai Smith (1) caused a stutter in the Raiders’ first innings’ proceedings.
Meanwhile, Hassan fell briefly after amassing his half-century as Dubs Wood removed him for 52 off 36 balls including four boundaries and three sixes.
The heavy rainfall then interrupted the Raiders’ first innings at 125/4 in 16 overs.
The winless Hunters are on the cusp of an early exit from the six-team tournament after falling to the Raiders – their third consecutive defeat.
