ISLAMABAD: Ali Imran’s half-century guided Northern to a three-run victory over Central Punjab while Adil Amin’s quick unbeaten 40 helped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa overcome Sindh by six wickets in the matches of Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23 at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi on Sunday.
In the first match, Tayyab Tahir’s third half-century of the tournament – the most for any batter – went in vain as Central Punjab lost to Northern by three runs.
The Central Punjab opener scored 53 off 39 (six fours and a six) and stitched a crucial 82-run second wicket partnership with Abdullah Shafiq (33 off 23, five fours) in a contest curtailed to 16 overs because of rain.
Northern’s Ali Imran – later named player of the match – smashed 56 at a strike rate of over 164 after Central Punjab captain Qasim Akram elected to bowl. Ali struck three sixes and as many fours in his 34-ball knock before he was dismissed by Mohammad Ali – who returned three for 33 – in the penultimate over.
He added 39 runs with opener Hasan Nawaz (24 off 23) and 47 with Mubasir Khan (18 off 17) in what was an extraordinary rearguard after Northern were reduced to 10 for two in nine balls.
Sohail Tanvir made his experience count down the order spanking 20 runs off eight deliveries (two fours and a six).
In the second match of the day, Adil Amin’s superb unbeaten 40 off 24 helped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa surmount 152-run target with eight balls spare.
Player of the match Adil smashed three four and two sixes as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa crossed the line with six wickets in hand.
Adil was provided a solid platform for the run chase by openers Sahibzada Farhan (45 off 34) and Mohammad Haris (37 off 29) as they added 82 for the first wicket. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had a scare in the 11th over when both were dismissed by leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood.
Sind’s Saad Khan top-scored with 40 off 36 and wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed made 27 not out off 24 after captain Saud Shakeel elected to bat. The other notable batters in Sindh’s innings were opener Saim Ayub (23 off 20), Saud (20 off 15) and Danish Aziz (21 not ouf off 15).
Scores in brief: Match 1- Northern 146-7, 16 overs (Ali Imran 56, Hasan Nawaz 24, Sohail Tanvir 20 not out; Mohammad Ali 3-33, Ali Asfand 2-24, Aamer Yamin 2-30).
Central Punjab 143-5, 16 overs (Tayyab Tahir 53, Abdullah Shafique 33; Salman Irshad 2-27).
Match 2- Sindh 151-4, 20 overs (Saad Khan 40, Sarfaraz Ahmed 27 not out, Saim Ayub 23, Danish Aziz 21 not out, Saud Shakeel 20; Mohammad Imran 2-30).
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 154-4, 18.4 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 45, Adil Amin 40 not out, Mohammad Haris 37; Zahid Mehmood 2-32).
Monday’s fixtures: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Southern Punjab at 0930; Balochistan v Northern at 1345.
