The seventh round of Pakistan Cup 2023-24, played at four venues across Rawalpindi, AJK and Abbottabad, saw wins for Karachi Whites, Multan, FATA and Faisalabad. Despite losing their game against FATA today, Peshawar, with 11 points, topped the table and have thus qualified for the semi-finals of the Pakistan Cup along with Karachi Whites, Multan and FATA. Rawalpindi, despite equaling FATA’s 8 points, failed to qualify owing to their inferior NRR.
The first semi-final will be played between Peshawar and FATA on 16 November while the second semi-final will be held between Karachi Whites and Multan on 17 November. The tournament final will be played on 19 November. All three games will be played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Faisalabad v Lahore Whites at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Faisalabad posted 293-8 in 45 overs after choosing to bat first against Lahore Whites at Pindi Cricket Stadium. Mohammad Faizan (70, 63b, 8x4s, 3x6s) and Muhammad Irfan Khan (70, 68b, 6x4s, 2x6s) were the prominent run-getters for the side. Shehzad Akhtar (36, 58b, 5x4s) and Mohammad Saleem (35, 33b, 2x4s, 1×6) also chipped in with crucial runs.
Right-arm pacer Aamer Jamal took three wickets and Lahore Whites skipper Saad Naseem returned with two wickets.
Lahore Whites had an abysmal start to the chase, with Abid Ali and Umar Akmal dismissed for ducks and Mohammad Akhlaq getting out for just one run. Syed Zain-ul-Hasnain (10, 23b, 1×4) was caught behind soon after. Tayyab Tahir (46, 52b, 7x4s) and Saad (41, 44b, 4x4s, 2x6s) stitched together a valiant partnership of 75 runs, however, their efforts remained insufficient as the side was dismissed for 191 in 43.4 overs. Fighting knocks by Ahmed Daniyal (38, 42b, 1×4, 2x6s) and Fahad Munir (27, 72b, 1×4) went in vain.
Khurram Shahzad bagged his second consecutive four-fer. Ali Asfand and Abubakar Khan accounted for two wickets each.
Multan v Rawalpindi at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi got to 242-9 in the allotted 45 overs after being put into bat first by Multan at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium. Haider Ali hit an unbeaten half-century (78 not out, 70b, 2x4s, 5x6s) and was the top performer with the bat for his team. Opening batter Abdul Faseeh added a run-a-ball 68 (8x4s, 1×6) to the total. His fellow opener Rehman Khan chipped in with 33 from 42, including four boundaries and a six.
Leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood bagged three wickets. Right-arm pacer Mohammad Imran and Multan captain Sharoon Siraj got two wickets apiece.
Sharjeel Khan’s century (106, 84b, 10x4s, 7x6s) helped Multan turn the chase completely in their favor. Sharoon (63 not out, 68b, 3x4s, 2x6s) also hit an unbeaten half-century to help the side get over the line in 43.2 overs with three wickets to spare.
All Rawalpindi bowlers returned with wickets; Kashif Ali and Farhan Shafiq, with two wickets each, were most successful of the lot.
FATA v Peshawar at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad
FATA banked on their decision to field first and bowled out Peshawar for 112 in 33 overs at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. Left-arm pacer Usman Khan Shinwari registered the fourth five-wicket haul of his List A career, giving only 14 runs in return. Right-arm fast bowler Irfanullah Shah and left-arm spinner Asif Afridi claimed two wickets each.
Niaz Khan (40, 54b, 4x4s, 1×6), who was the ninth batter in, produced a fighting knock for Peshawar. The second-best score of the innings came from Sajid Khan’s bat, hitting 29 from 32, including three fours and a six.
On the back of a half-century by Samiullah Jnr (64, 74b, 8x4s, 1×6), FATA cruised to the target of 113 in 25.3 overs, losing only two wickets in the process. Salman Khan Jnr (32 not out, 69b, 2x4s) was the other contributor with the bat.
Mohammad Ilyas and Sajid Khan got a wicket each.
Karachi Whites v Lahore Blues at Mirpur Cricket Stadium, AJK
In the rain-delayed match, Lahore Blues scored 197-9 in the stipulated 40 overs, after being asked to bat first by Karachi Whites at Mirpur Cricket Stadium. Hussain Talat hit a half-century (51, 60b, 2x2s, 2x6s) after the top four failed to get going. Cameos by Kashif Bhatti (35 not out, 22b, 4x4s, 2x6s) and Hunain Shah (24, 23b, 3x6s) took the side to a fighting total.
Left-arm spinner Danish Aziz, and fast bowlers Mir Hamza and Sohail Khan claimed two wickets each.
Although Shan Masood fell one short of his century but his fiery knock of 99 off 68 balls featuring 11 fours and two sixes ensured that Karachi Whites reach the target with ease. They scored 201-4 in 28.4 overs, winning the game comprehensively. Danish (32 not out, 52b, 2x4s, 1×6) was the second-highest scorer for the side.
Left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti claimed two wickets while right-arm pacer Hunain Shah and leg-spinner Usman Qadir got a wicket each.
Scores in brief:
Faisalabad beat Lahore Whites by 102 runs
Faisalabad 293-8, 45 overs (Mohammad Faizan 70, Muhammad Irfan Khan 70, Shahzad Akhtar 36, Mohammad Saleem 35; Aamir Jamal 3-55, Saad Naseem 2-64)
Lahore Whites 191 all out, 43.4 overs (Tayyab Tahir 46, Saad Naseem 41, Ahmed Daniyal 38; Khurram Shahzad 4-37, Abubakar Khan 2-24, Ali Asfand 2-53)
Multan beat Rawalpindi by three wickets.
Rawalpindi 242-9, 45 overs (Haider Ali 78 not out, Abdul Faseeh 68, Rehman Khan 33; Zahid Mehmood 3-39, Muhammad Imran 2-34, Sharoon Siraj 2-41)
Multan 244-7, 43.2 overs (Sharjeel Khan 106, Sharoon Siraj 63 not out; Kashif Ali 2-36, Farhan Shafiq 2-46)
FATA beat Peshawar by eight wickets
Peshawar 112 all out, 33 overs (Niaz Khan 40, Sajid Khan 29; Usman Khan Shinwari 5-14, Irfanullah Shah 2-10, Asif Afridi 2-32)
FATA 113-2, 25.3 overs (Samiullah Jnr 64, Salman Khan Jnr 32 not out; Mohammad Ilyas 1-19, Sajid Khan 1-23)
Karachi Whites beat Lahore Blues by six wickets
Lahore Blues 197-9, 40 overs (Hussain Talat 51, Kashif Bhatti 35 not out, Hunain Shah 24; Danish Aziz 2-27, Mir Hamza 2-29, Sohail Khan 2-47)
Karachi Whites 201-4, 28.4 overs (Shan Masood 99, Danish Aziz 32 not out; Kashif Bhatti 2-21, Hunain Shah 1-37, Usman Qadir 1-59)
