Pakistan National T20 Cup 2022 Round Up, August 31


image-l7gjrcvgSindh outclass Southern Punjab by 42 runs / Source: Twitter

The 20th edition of the National T20 Cup kicked off on Tuesday, August 30 with a total of four teams engaging in two enthralling T20 clashes at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Here is a look at the highlights from each of the two games.


Sindh vs Southern Punjab 

The curtain-raiser of the National T20 Cup 2022 saw Sindh decimate Southern Punjab by 42 runs. 

Putting to bat first, Sindh rode on former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed's flamboyant knock of 32-ball 42 to add 147 runs on the board. Earlier openers Sharjeel Khan and Saim Ayub gave the team a flying start, cobbling up a 38-run stand for the first wicket. 

Skipper Saud Shakeel and Saad Khan also chipped in with 18 runs each as the team reached 147 before eventually bundling out in 19.4 overs. 

Sameen Gul and Mohammad Ilyas were the picks of the bowlers for Southern Punjab, having returned with three wickets each. Faisal Akram also claimed a couple of braces in his three overs spell. 

Southern Punjab, in reply, skittled out for just 105 runs in 16.4 overs. Sharoon Siraj and Mohammad Ilyas top-scored for the team, having amassed 36 and 19 runs respectively. 

For Sindh, the likes of Shoali Khan (3/15), Danish Aziz (2/22), and Zahid Mahmood (2/22) were the chief annihilators with the ball, having sent more than half of the Central Punjab team back to the pavilion. 

Brief Score

Sindh: 147 (19.4 Overs)

Sarfaraz Ahmed 42 (32), Saim Ayub 30 (20);
Sameen Gul 3-24 (3.4), Mohammad Ilyas 3-29 (4) 

Southern Punjab: 105 (16.4 Overs)

Sharoon Siraj 36 (27), Mohammad Ilyas 19 (8);
Shoali Khan 3-15 (2.4), Danish Aziz 2-22 (4)

Sindh won by 42 runs. 


Balochistan vs Central Punjab 

image-l7gjrnqbBalochistan beat Central Punjab by 2 runs / Source: Twitter

The National T20 Cup 2022 witnessed a nail-biter on the opening day itself as Balochistan edged past Central Punjab by just two runs in the high-scoring thriller on Tuesday.

Balochistan, after opting to bat first added 186 runs on the board, major thanks to Abdul Bangalzai and Shan Masood's belligerent fifties. 

Asad Shafiq (23), Hussain Talat (16no), and Amad Butt (21no) also chipped in with handy cameos as Balochistan reached 186 runs in stipulated 20 overs for the loss of four wickets.

The right-arm quick Ahmed Daniyal was the wrecker-in-chief for Central Punjab, having scalped all the four wickets of Balochistan. 

Central Punjab, in reply, got a sluggish start, having added just 33 runs in the powerplay. However, the team found the groove in the chase in middle overs with Tayyab Tahir and Irfan Khan Niazi slamming sensational fifties. 

While Tahir peeled off 51 off just 33 deliveries, Niazi remained unbeaten for 31-ball 57 as Central Punjab fell just two runs short of the target, having managed to add 184 runs on the board after 20 overs. 

For Balochistan, Amad Butt was the pick of the bowlers, having returned with three wickets in his quota of four overs. Yasir Shah and Kashif Bhatti also got a wicket each.  


Brief Score

Balochistan: 186/4 (20 Overs)

Shan Masood 54 (36), Abdul Bangalzai 54 (39);
Ahmed Daniyal 4-28 (4)

Central Punjab: 184/5 (20 Overs)

Irfan Khan 57 (31)*, Tayyab Tahir 51 (33);
Amad Butt 3-29 (4), Yasir Shah 1-28 (4)

Balochistan won by 2 runs.


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