Lahore Whites, Abbottabad and Peshawar bagged wins on the last day of Super Eight stage of the AH Group presents Jazz Super 4G National T20 Cup 2023-24. Peshawar made it ten out of ten wins after facing a defeat in their first game of the tournament.
The last game of the Super Eight stage is scheduled to take place between Karachi Whites and Rawalpindi with the first ball set to be bowled at 2000 PKT.
Lahore Whites vs Sialkot at UBL Sports Complex
Lahore Whites successfully defended their total of 189-2 as Sialkot were bundled out for 159 in 18.2 overs at UBL Sports Complex. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Lahore Whites batters came out all guns blazing. Opening batter Mohammad Faiq (110 not out, 60b, 16x4s, 2x6s), playing just the second T20 game of his career, smashed his maiden century.
Faiq was supported by Ahmed Shehzad (27, 21b, 3x4s, 1×6) earlier as the pair shared an opening partnership of 75 runs. Imran Dogar (35, 24b, 4x4s, 1x6s) also chipped in with a vital contribution.
Sialkot openers, Ashir Mehmood (27, 14b, 3x4s, 1×6) and Mohammad Huraira (17, 18b, 3x4s), gave a decent start to their team but then Lahore Whites struck thrice to leave the opposition 52-3. Shoaib Malik (64, 33b, 2x4s, 6x6s) was the only Sialkot batter who challenged the Lahore Whites bowlers. Mohammad Irfan took three wickets while all other Lahore Whites bowlers bagged one scalp each.
Mohammad Faiq was declared player of the match for his classy ton.
Abbottabad vs Lahore Blues at NBP Sports Complex
Abbottabad eked out a tight win against Lahore Blues they chased the target of 172 with three wickets in the bag and one ball to spare. Lahore Blues were asked to bat first by Abbottabad and they did well to post a competitive total on board. Imran Butt (5, 7b, 1×4) and Umar Siddiq (17, 11b, 3x4s) departed early. Qasim Akram (40, 33b, 3x4s) and Rizwan Hussain (36, 27b, 4x4s, 1×6) then put on a partnership of 66 runs to steer Lahore Blues out of trouble.
Junaid Ali chipped in with an unbeaten 44 off 24 balls comprising of five boundaries and one six. Debutant Aqib Khan picked up two wickets while Kamran Ghulam bagged the wicket of set batter Rizwan Hussain.
Abbottabad’s chase was anchored by opening batter Sajjad Ali Jnr (60, 41b, 6x4s, 2x6s) and the experienced Kamran (69, 45b, 5x4s, 4x6s), who stitched a second-wicket partnership of 83 runs. Following Kamran’s dismissal in the 18th over, Shahab Khan’s timely cameo of 26 off 10 balls laced with three sixes took the game away from Lahore Blues. Nisar Ahmed took two wickets for Lahore Blues while all other bowlers except Asfand Mehran took one scalp each.
Kamran was awarded player of the match for his all-round contribution.
Peshawar vs FATA at National Bank Stadium
Peshawar beat FATA by six wickets as they hunted down the target of 181 in 19.4 overs. Earlier, Peshawar’s decision to field first looked to backfire as FATA plundered 180 runs losing only three wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Opening batter Samiullah Jnr (10, 11b, 1×4) was removed early on by Mohammad Imran but then the other opener Rehan Afridi launched a counterattack. 31-year old Rehan smashed an unbeaten 90 from 56 balls consisting of eight boundaries and four sixes. Salman Khan Jnr (21 not out, 13b, 1×4, 1×6) also contributed at the end of the innings to take FATA to 180-3.
Peshawar’s chase was highlighted by Sahibzada Farhan’s (74, 40b, 7x4s, 5x6s) belligerent batting right from the start. After Sahibzada was dismissed in the 13th over, Iftikhar Ahmed (45, 29b, 2x4s, 3x6s) took charge of the innings and remained unbeaten to seal the triumph in last over.
Only Khushdil Shah managed two wickets while other bowlers remained wicketless. Sahibzada Farhan was declared player of the match for his brilliant batting.
Scores in brief:
Lahore Whites beat Sialkot by 30 runs at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi
Lahore Whites 189-2, 20 overs (Mohammad Faiq 110 not out, Imran Dogar 35, Ahmed Shehzad 27; Bilal Asif 1-25, Shakib Ali 1-31)
Sialkot 159 all out, 18.2 overs (Shoaib Malik 64, Ashir Mehmood 27, Mohammad Waleed 26, Mohammad Irfan 3-26, Mohamamd Amir Khan 1-17, Ahmed Daniyal 1-27, Mohamamd Rameez Jnr 1-31, Saad Nasim 1-54)
Player of the match – Mohammad Faiq (Lahore Whites)
Abbottabad beat Lahore Blues by three wickets at NBP Sports Complex, Karachi
Lahore Blues 171-6, 20 overs (Junaid Ali 44, Qasim Akram 40 not out, Rizwan Hussain 36; Aqib Khan 2-22, Kamran Ghulam 1-16, Mehrooz Rasheed 1-27, Shahab Khan 1-44)
Abbottabad 174-7, 19.5 overs (Kamran Ghulam 69, Sajjad Ali Jnr 60, Shahab Khan 26 not out; Nisar Ahmad 2-35, Qasim Akram 1-9, Kashif Bhatti 1-28, Usman Qadir 1-31, Ali Shafique 1-41)
Player of the match – Kamran Ghulam (Abbottabad)
Peshawar beat FATA by six wickets at National Bank Stadium, Karachi
FATA 180-3, 20 overs (Rehan Afridi 90 not out, Kashif Noor 32, Salman Khan Jnr 21 not out; Iftikhar Ahmed 1-22, Mohammad Imran 1-33, Mohammad Abbas Afridi 1-42)
Peshawar 185-4, 19.4 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 74, Iftikhar Ahmed 45 not out, Israrullah 25; Khushdil Shah 2-36)
Player of the match – Sahibzada Farhan (Peshawar)
