National T20 Cup | Match 24 | Southern Punjab [205/3] beat Central Punjab [202/8] by 3 runs

[MenInG]

Central Punjab - Babar Azam (captain), Saad Nasim (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafiq, Abid Ali, Ahmed Bashir, Ali Shan, Ehsan Adil, Irfan Khan Niazi, Kamran Akmal (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Akhlaq, Waqas Maqsood (replaces Naseem Shah), Qasim Akram, Rizwan Hussain, Sohaibullah, Usman Qadir and Zafar Gohar.

Southern Punjab – Shan Masood (captain), Hussain Talat (vice-captain), Aamir Yamin, Ali Shafiq, Dilbar Hussain, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Imran, Saif Baddar, Sohaib Maqsood, Umer Khan, Umar Siddiq Khan, Zahid Mehmood, Zain Abbas and Zeeshan Ashraf (wicketkeeper).

 

[MenInG]

Need Babar Azam to lead from the front and win games.

 

[Abdullah719]

Central Punjab won the toss and elected to field first

 

[PakPremi]

I don't think I have seen a match where Kamran has not missed a stumping or a catch.

 

[Titan24]

Qasim robbed by Kamran off a well deserved wicket

 

[ataullah]

Qasim Akram looks a top offie after a long time in Pak. Let's hope he can fill void by Hafeez

 

[PakPremi]

All three spinners of Central punjab can play for Pak,.

 

[Khan12]

Qasim Akram looks a top offie after a long time in Pak. Let's hope he can fill void by Hafeez

He is a batting all rounder.

 

[PakPremi]

There are so many better all rounders than Fahim in Pakistan domestic.

 

[Titan24]

Aamer Yamin bowls well with the new ball more often than not. Got Babar for duck

 

[anonymous_guy]

Aamer Yamin bowls well with the new ball more often than not. Got Babar for duck

Amir Yamin is the best new ball bowler in limited overs cricket in Pakistan, period.

 

[trickyone]

Amir Yamin is the best new ball bowler in limited overs cricket in Pakistan, period.

He should be playing ahead of the phaaast bowlers, he will get you the wickets with new balls all the time...

 

[Titan24]

Amir Yamin is the best new ball bowler in limited overs cricket in Pakistan, period.

Agreed. Definitely right up there. Really surprising how his new ball skill isn’t rated highly and gets undermined due to his death overs bowling.

 

[Titan24]

Poor from Abdullah today, there was absolutely no need for that. Looked like they really wanted to target Abbas

 

[Abdullah Rabbani]

Abdullah desperately need more experience before debut, he is not ready yet

 

[zain7077]

Abdullah plays some unbelievable shots but he’s clearly suited to the longer formats. Contrary to popular belief I feel he’s ready to play for Pak.

 

[Saj]

Wild shots by Rizwan Hussain. Lots of airy fairy strokes - not very intelligent batting.

 

[shah_1]

Abdullah desperately need more experience before debut, he is not ready yet

First class season and Pakistan cup. If he does perform then select him

 

[shah_1]

Faheem batting like lance Klusener

 

[trickyone]

Faheem is pretty good when you dont expect anything from him lol

 

[trickyone]

And Faheem got out

 

[Deewana Mastana]

CP lost it

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Faheem batting like lance Klusener

He wished lol

 

[Titan24]

What a match! 3rd and 4th positions still open.

 

[MenInG]

 

[Savak]

Inability to hit yorkers at the death is inexcusable given the hitting abilities of players from the Big 5

 

[shamaan]

Poor from Abdullah today, there was absolutely no need for that. Looked like they really wanted to target Abbas

Really poor kamran should have calmed him down after getting 12 already off the over

 

[shamaan]

Wild shots by Rizwan Hussain. Lots of airy fairy strokes - not very intelligent batting.

Not good enough hits everything leg side hes had more than enough chances

 

[shamaan]

CP lost it

Should have won it from thier dropped catches cost them

 

[shamaan]

First class season and Pakistan cup. If he does perform then select him

Il still taken him for the Zimbabwe series

 

[trickyone]

Camerawork has improved drastically as well...

 

[ataullah]

Not good enough hits everything leg side hes had more than enough chances

He should be dropped from psl for Danish and Saud

 

[shah_1]

Il still taken him for the Zimbabwe series

What is the point of performing against Zimbabwe, they are 14th ranked in ODIs. Play first class instead then go to NZ tour for the A tour

 

[MenInG]

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf’s scintillating half-century (54 off 22 balls) went in vain as a brilliant final over by Mohammad Abbas sealed a thrilling three-run win for Southern Punjab against Central Punjab in the 24th match of the National T20 Cup for First XI teams at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi on Tuesday night.

Faheem stole the limelight in the death overs after coming to bat with his side requiring 81 off the last 40 balls with five wickets standing. He went onto hit four fours and five sixes but was eventually dismissed for 54 off 22 balls on the last ball of the penultimate over leaving Central Punjab 12 runs short of the target.

Abbas bowled a brilliant final over in which he conceded a mere eight runs and dismissed Usman Qadir (six) off the final ball to earn his side a much-needed victory that has kept their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals alive.

Southern Punjab now have four points from eight games while Central Punjab have six from nine matches, Southern Punjab still need to win their last two matches and hope for some favourable results to sneak through to the semi-finals.

Central Punjab’s 206-run chase began at a disastrous note when the in-form Babar Azam was dismissed for a golden duck by Aamer Yamin with Zahid Mahmood taking a smart catch at the third-man boundary.

Abdullah Shafiq fell to Mohammad Abbas for 13 while Southern Punjab made another major breakthrough when Kamran Akmal was dismissed by Mohammad Ilyas for 32 off 18 balls (two fours, three sixes) leaving Central Punjab 57 for three in the sixth over.

Muhammad Akhlaq contributed 30 off 18 balls (two fours, two sixes) while Rizwan Hussain made 29 off 27 balls, the two however failed to make the most of their starts as Central Punjab stuttered to 125 for five in the 14th over.

Faheem Ashraf then revived the chase with some stunning stroke play first in the company of Qasim Akram (21 off 14 balls, three fours) and then Zafar Gohar (seven not out) but failed to take his side over the line.

Reflecting on his performance, man-of-the-match Mohammad Abbas said: “I had played four games, I really wanted to win my team a game. The captain wanted me to bowl the last over while I wanted to bowl the penultimate over. I am really happy that I have won the game for my team. I have played white-ball previously too despite my success in Test cricket; I enjoy bowling in T20 cricket. I really want to improve further in this format and would continue to strive for success.”

Central Punjab asked Southern Punjab to bat first after winning the toss. Openers Shan Masood and Zain Abbas added 54 runs in their 39-ball stand, Zain fell for 16. Shan played a captain’s knock, the left-hander made 50 off 38 balls (seven fours) before he was stumped by Kamran off Zafar after adding 50 runs with Hussain Talat.

The Shan stumping was the 100th of Kamran’s T20 career; the 38-year-old is the first wicketkeeper in history to register 100 stumpings in the shortest format.

After Shan’s dismissal, Sohaib Maqsood contributed a breezy 25 off 12 balls (three sixes), Sohaib was dismissed by Zafar. Khushdil Shah replaced Sohaib and made a useful alliance with Hussain.

The two added 68 runs in a mere 38 balls for the unbroken fourth wicket stand that took Southern Punjab to their 205 for three total. Hussain remained unbeaten on 59 off 36 balls (seven fours, two sixes).

Khushdil who hit a record-breaking 35-ball 100 in Southern Punjab’s victory over Sindh last week, once again showcased his big-hitting ability with an unbeaten 47 off 23 balls. The left-hander hit four fours and three sixes in his innings.

Zafar took two wickets for 20 runs (two overs) while Ahmed Bashir took one wicket for 36 runs in four overs.

Scores in brief

Southern Punjab 205-3, 20 overs (Hussain Talat 59 not out, Shan Masood 50, Khushdil Shah 47 not out; Zafar Gohar 2-20)

Central Punjab 202-8, 20 overs (Faheem Ashraf 54, Kamran Akmal 32, Muhammad Akhlaq 30; Mohammad Abbas 3-41, Aamer Yamin 2-38, Muhammad Imran 2-43)

Result – Southern Punjab won by three runs

Man-of-the-match – Mohammad Abbas (Southern Punjab)

 

[Syed1]

Bobby didn't score and CP didn't win.