- Mukhtar Ahmed’s all-round performance guides Southern Punjab to an eight-wicket win over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Urdu version of the media release is attached here
Karachi, 24 December 2020: Southern Punjab finished with eight points and a better net run-rate than Sindh, who also finished with eight points, to emerge as winners of the Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament for Second XIs at the end of the fifth and final round of the single-league tournament that was staged at three Karachi venues today (Thursday).
Southern Punjab beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by eight wickets at the NBP Sports Complex in their match today to ensure their number one spot on the points table and tournament victory.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Southern Punjab, NBP Sports Complex, Karachi:
Batting first after being asked to bat at the toss, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa posted 248 all out in 46.3 overs. Opener Mohammad Mohsin Khan top-scored with 65 off 77 balls with the help of seven fours and one six. Sahibzada Farhan contributed 45 off 64 balls (six fours). Ahsan Baig took three wickets while Mukhtar Ahmed and Zohaib Afridi took two wickets apiece.
Southern Punjab were well served by opener Mukhtar who scored 91 off 114 balls (nine fours, one six) and Waqar Hussain who scored an unbeaten 89 off 96 balls (10 fours, one six) as they completed the chase in 45.4 overs for the loss of two wickets.
Sindh vs Northern, KCCA Stadium, Karachi:
Faraz Ali’s 119 off 137 balls (nine fours, two sixes) took Sindh to a 263 for seven total in 50 overs. Faraz, who batted at number three, added 101 runs for the fourth-wicket with Saad Khan who scored 53 off 69 balls (six fours). For Northern Aamer Jamal, Mehran Mumtaz and Salman Irshad took two wickets each.
Northern were bowled out for 170 in 40.3 overs in reply. Opener Ziad Khan top-scored with 56 that was laced with six fours and one six. Shoaib Ahmed contributed 41 runs. Spinners Hassan Khan and Rameez Aziz took four wickets each to spearhead their side to their convincing 93-run victory.
Balochistan vs Central Punjab, TMC Ground, Karachi:
Batting first, Central Punjab were bowled out for a meagre 89 runs in 30.2 overs. Junaid Ali made a 27-run contribution. Balochistan spinners Zainullah and Fahad Hussain took three wickets each while Abdul Wahid Bangalzai took two wickets with his left-arm spin.
Balochistan went past the target for the loss of one wicket in 18.1 overs. Bismillah Khan top-scored with an unbeaten 47 off 57 balls (six fours, one six). Abdul Wahid contributed 31 runs.
Southern Punjab led the batting and bowling chart at the conclusion of the tournament. Right-handed opening batsman Mukhtar Ahmed topped the batting chart with 314 from five matches with one hundred and two fifties while right-arm fast Ahsan Baig picked 12 wickets from five matches at an average of 18.33.
Scores in brief:
Sindh vs Northern, KCCA Stadium, Karachi:
Sindh 263-7, 50 overs (Faraz Ali 119, Saad Khan 53; Aamer Jamal 2-31, Mehran Mumtaz 2-48, Salman Irshad 2-58)
Northern 170 all out, 40.3 overs (Ziad Khan 56, Shoaib Ahmed 41; Rameez Aziz 4-11, Hassan Khan 4-30)
Result: Sindh won by 93 runs
Balochistan vs Central Punjab, TMC Ground, Karachi:
Central Punjab 89 all out, 30.2 overs (Junaid Ali 27; Fahad Hussain 3-13, Zainullah 3-33, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 2-10)
Balochistan 91 for 1, 18.1 overs (Bismillah Khan 47 not out, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 31; Kamran Afzal 1-15)
Result: Balochistan won by nine wickets
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vs Southern Punjab, NBP Sports Complex, Karachi:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 248 all out, 46.3 overs (Mohammad Mohsin Khan 65, Sahibzada Farhan 45; Ahsan Baig 3-48, Mukhtar Ahmed 2-27, Zohaib Afridi 2-43)
Southern Punjab 249-2, 45.4 overs (Mukhtar Ahmed 91, Waqar Hussain 89 not out, Anas Mustafa 39; Maaz Ahmed Sadaqat 1-36)
Result: Southern Punjab won by eight wickets
