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Faisal Akram Delivers A Final Over For Ages As PAK Shaheens Pip Nepal In Top End T20 Thriller

Aakash Saini

Pakistan A defeat Nepal in Top End 2025 [Source: @TheRealPCB_Live/x]Pakistan A defeat Nepal in Top End 2025 [Source: @TheRealPCB_Live/x]

Pakistan Shaheens overcame Nepal in a stiff final-over thriller to jump to the second spot on the Top End 2025 points table and qualify for the semifinals. The outcome also snapped Nepal’s newfound winning momentum, and they now stand eighth on the 11-team standings. 

Here, we take a look at the highlights of the 30th match of the Top End T20 2025 series, as it panned out at the Marrara Cricket Ground No. 2 in Darwin on Friday, August 22.

Irfan Khan Overcomes Sompal Kami’s Three-Fer In Fighting Knock

Dipendra Singh Airee struck with two wickets in his first over of the match as Pakistan Shaheens slipped to 4-2. Kushal Bhurtel (1-29) and Nandan Yadav (2-32) further piled on Pakistan’s misery as they reached a sluggish 74-7 around 13 overs. For Pakistan Shaheens, captain Irfan Khan at number seven counterattacked with a swift 42-run knock in just 26 balls with three boundaries and a six.

Countering Sompal Kami’s three-wicket haul in the innings, Irfan shared handy runs with Mohammad Wasim (23 off 22) as Pakistan Shaheens charted a respectable 144-9.

Nepal Squander Chase Despite Rohit Paudel’s 52

Despite losing opener Kushal Bhurtel early in the innings to Mohammad Salman, Nepal reached 58-1 around the halfway stage courtesy of Aasif Sheikh’s calculated 27 and captain Rohit Paudel’s courageous half-century. 

However, a wicket each from Faisal Akram and Mohammad Wasim and a couple of runouts in Pakistan’s favor ensured Nepal remained on the back foot, at least while keeping up with the asking rate.

While Paudel crafted 52 runs off 44 balls, Mohammad Wasim (2-28) and Faisal Akram’s (2-29) tight spells ensured Pakistan Shaheens kept Nepal down by a run in a last-over thriller to bag two crucial points.