Pakistan National T20 Cup: 2022 Round Up (September 2)

Shan Masood in action against Sindh

The Pakistan National T20 Cup 2022 continued on September 2 with two matches at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Here is look at the highlights from each of the two fixtures.

Balochistan vs Sindh

Sindh’s unbeaten streak this season was snapped by Balochistan, courtesy of a calculated run-chase orchestrated by Shan Masood.

Earlier, Sindh captain Saud Shakeel had won the toss and opted to bat first. After losing both openers early in the innings, Saad Khan and senior asset Sarfaraz Ahmed made notable contributions in the middle-order and boosted their score to 142-7.

As many as three Balochistan bowlers picked two wickets each, with Yasir Shah serving as the star of the first-innings show through his 2-23 off four overs.

Balochistan’s run-chase featured contributions of 15, 17 and 16 from their respective top three batters. Shan Masood, at number four, launched a rescue effort by cracking an unbeaten half-century and guided his team to the finishing line.

The Yasir Shah-led side won the contest with five wickets and seven balls in hand to register their second win of the 2022 National T20 Cup season.

Brief scores:

Sindh: 142-7 (20)

Saad Khan 31 (27), Sarfaraz Ahmed 29 (23)

Yasir Shah 2-23, Kashif Bhatti 2-23

Balochistan: 143-5 (18.5)

Shan Masood 53* (39), Amad Butt 25* (12)

Sohail Khan 2-35, Abrar Ahmed 1-24

Balochistan won by 5 wickets

Central Punjab vs Southern Punjab

Southern Punjab humbled a star-studded Central Punjab line-up in match number eight of the 2022 National T20 Cup.

Zain Abbas’ boundary-laden 65 and Sharoon Siraj’s rapid 35 elevated the Southern Punjab total to 165-8 upfront. Ahmed Daniyal was the pick-of-the-bowler for Central, as he picked three wickets in his three-over spell. The youngster was ably assisted by his senior teammate Wahar Riaz, who himself snared two in the innings.

In response, the Central Punjab’s run-chase crumbled to just 79, despite featuring T20 heavyweight Shoaib Malik and international star Ahmed Shehzad in their line-up.

Southern captain Agha Salman, who picked three wickets against Balochistan earlier in the tournament, struck five times in his three-over spell today.

Brief scores:

Southern Punjab: 165-8 (20)

Zain Abbas 65 (44), Sharoon Siraj 35 (24)

Ahmed Daniyal 3-27, Wahab Riaz 2-37

Central Punjab: 79 (14.3)

Usama Mir 17 (13), Ahmed Shehzad 11 (7)

Salman Ali Agha 5-10, Mohammad Ilyas 1-5

Southern Punjab won by 86 runs

Highlights from Zain Abbas’ match-winning knock, watch video

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