Abdullah Shafique's 96 eclipses Shahab Khan’s five-for as Sialkot claim top spot
Abdullah Shafique’s sparkling 96 and Usama Mir’s four-wicket burst guided Sialkot Region to a 31-run triumph over Abbottabad Region in the eighth round of the ABS Developers National T20 Cup at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar.
In the day’s second fixture, Saad Baig’s unbeaten 72, complemented by four wickets apiece from Shahnawaz Dahani and Jahandad Khan, propelled Karachi Region Blues to a 57-run victory over Lahore Region Blues. Both sides, however, are now out of the semi-final race.
Group B standings see Sialkot on top, followed by Multan, Abbottabad, and Karachi Blues — all locked on four points, separated only by net run-rate. Lahore Blues remain winless with one game left. The battle for two semi-final berths among Sialkot, Multan, and Abbottabad will unfold on Monday, 16 March.
Match 15: Sialkot vs Abbottabad
Opting to bat first, Sialkot posted 202-6 in 20 overs. After early setbacks at 25-2, Abdullah Shafique (96 off 54, 4x4s, 7x6s) and Hasan Nawaz (57 off 34, 6x4s, 3x6s) stitched a commanding 145-run stand. Despite a late wobble, Mohsin Riaz’s 16* off 9 ensured Sialkot crossed the 200 mark.
Abbottabad’s Shahab Khan shone with figures of 5-25, his third T20 five-for, joining an elite list of Pakistani bowlers with multiple five-wicket hauls.
Chasing 203, Abbottabad faltered to 87-5. Sajjad Ali Hashmi top-scored with 40, while Atizaz Habib Khan (28) and Razaullah (25) offered brief resistance. Usama Mir’s 4-42, supported by Mohammad Ali, Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti, and Shoaib Akhtar Jnr (two wickets each), sealed Abbottabad’s fate at 171 all out.
Result: Sialkot won by 31 runs
Player of the Match: Abdullah Shafique (Sialkot)
Match 16: Karachi Blues vs Lahore Blues
Karachi Blues piled up 206-3 in 20 overs. Ahsan Ali (39) and Shah Raza Naqvi (30) provided a brisk start, followed by Usman Khan’s 21. Saad Baig then took charge with a fluent 72* off 37 balls (7x4s, 4x6s), adding 89 unbeaten runs with Mohammad Usman Rahim (33*).
In reply, Lahore Blues folded for 149 in 17.3 overs. Skipper Saad Nasim fought with 47, while Ali Hassan Baloch (30) and Hamza Zahoor (27) chipped in. The pace duo of Shahnawaz Dahani (4-24) and Jahandad Khan (4-25) dismantled the batting, with Mehran Mumtaz adding 2-28.
Result: Karachi Blues won by 57 runs
Player of the Match: Shahnawaz Dahani (Karachi Blues)
Upcoming Fixtures (Sunday, 15 March)
- Lahore Whites vs Karachi Whites — 4:30 PM PKT
- Bahawalpur vs Peshawar — 9:30 AM PKT