Auckland beat Sialkot by six wickets in CLT20 qualifier

Led by Kyle Mills (2/6), Ronnie Hira (2/36) and Andre Adams (2/21) outstanding bowling show, Auckland first restricted Sialkot Stallions to a modest 130 for nine in their stipulated 20 overs after the Pakistani team decided to bat yesterday.

Auckland then returned to overhaul the target with 2.5 overs to spare at the New Wanderers stadium here.

For Auckland, opener Martin Guptill was the top-scorer with his 32-ball 40, while Lou Vincent (20), Azhar Mahmood (24) and A Kitchen (33 not out) also made useful contributions.

Shahid Yousuf top-scored for the Stallions with a 25-ball 39, which was laced with three sixes and an equal number of boundaries. But the Stallions could not build partnerships and lost wickets in regular intervals.

Guptill, who struck five fours and a six in his 32-ball stay, led the chase with a 32-run opening stand with Vincent, who smashed three fours and a six in his 16-ball innings.

Guptill also starred in a 51-run second wicket stand in 40 balls with Azhar, who sent down three fours in his 23-ball innings. Once the opener was dismissed, Kitchen steered the chase and took his team home. His 21-ball innings was studded with two fours and two sixes.

Earlier, the Stallions had a subdued start as Mills and Bates bowled in rhythm, giving away just 11 in the first five over. Bates brought the first breakthrough, dismissing opener Shakeel Ansar (1) in the second over when he had him caught at mid-on by Anaru Kitchen.

In the sixth over, Sialkot had a big over when Haris Sohail (12) hit Azhar for a six and a four and Nazir smashed another six at the fine leg region. MORE