Sports Bulletin

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Multan:-The Multan leg of the Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23 kicked off with a scintillating contest between Northern and Sindh as the former sealed the thriller by one run on the last ball of the match with a run out. Balochistan completed a comfortable seven-wicket win over Central Punjab in the second match of the day. Huraira stars in Northern’s close win Mohammad Huraira played a brilliant innings of 86 in Northern’s one-run win over Sindh. The opener scored his runs at a quick pace (strike rate of 165), smashing 13 fours and a six in his 52-ball innings. Huraira, later named player of the match, put a profound 132-run first wicket partnership with Nasir Nawaz, who missed a half-century by only three runs as he was dismissed by Anwar Ali in the 14th over. Umar Amin played a cameo of 10-ball 21 not out (three fours) to lift his team to 190 for four. Zeeshan Malik, from the other end, provided his captain the desired support by spanking two sixes and a four in his nine-ball 19 not out Saud Shakeel, the Sindh captain, led his team’s reply with a breezy 43-ball 70 – hitting nine fours and a six – and stitched a 60-run partnership for the third wicket with Omair Bin Yousuf (20 off 19). Sarfaraz Ahmed provided impetus with his 13-bal 23 (two fours and a six) down the order. Sindh required 14 off the last six with Anwar Ali and Danish Aziz at the crease. Anwar Ali was dismissed on the third ball after hitting Usman Shinwari for a six on the previous ball. The equation finally came down to three off one and it ended with Faraz Ali’s run out as he looked to complete the second and take his team into the Super Over. Balochistan’s Haseebullah, Amad Butt add to Central Punjab’s misery Central Punjab won only one of their five matches in Rawalpindi and must have hoped for a change of fortunes in Multan, but their Multan leg got off with a demolishing seven-wicket defeat to Balochistan with Haseebullah’s 72 overhauling 170-run target with an over spare. Player of the match Haseebullah struck seven fours and three sixes in his 53-ball knock and provided a brilliant start to the run chase with a 96-run partnership with Asad Shafiq, who was another batter in the day to miss out a half-century by three runs. Asad made 47 in 34 (four fours and a six). Abdul Wahid Bangalzai played a blinder smashing 46 not out at a staggering strike rate of 192 as Balochistan closed the chase with ease. Amad Butt took four wickets for 30 runs when Central Punjab elected to bat. Shoaib Malik made his experience count, top-scoring with 44 off 30 (four fours). Aamer Yamin was the next best performer in the innings with 37 off 24 (five fours and a six). Central Punjab had made 169 for nine. Scores in brief: Northern beat Sindh by 1 run Northern 190-4, 20 overs (Mohammad Huraira 86, Nasir Nawaz 47, Umar Amin 21 not out) Sindh 189-7, 20 overs (Saud Shakeel 70, Sarfaraz Ahmed 23, Omair Bin Yousuf 20; Mubasir Khan 2-31, Usman Khan Shinwari 2-43) Player of the match – Mohammad Huraira (Northern) Balochistan beat Central Punjab by 7 wickets Central Punjab 169-9, 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 44, Aamer Yamin 37, Mohammad Faizan 26, Tayyab Tahir 21; Amad Butt 4-30) Balochistan 173-3, 19 overs (Haseebullah 72, Asad Shafiq 47, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 46 not out) Player of the match – Haseebullah (Balochistan)

SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT Multan:-Multan-the city of Saints-will be in the spotlight as the best domestic T20 cricketers converge in the city for the second leg of what has been an enthralling Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23. The picturesque Multan Cricket Stadium will host the last 17 matches including the semi-finals and the final, of the 33-match tournament. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are having a near-perfect campaign winning all five matches. They have rolled over every opposition in the tournament and all five sides will be wary of the threat Khalid Usman’s men pose when the Multan leg resumes from tomorrow. Balochistan, who played the final of the 2019 edition, have won three matches of the five and lost two. With each win granting two points, they have pocketed six points. Under the captaincy of Yasir Shah, Balochistan have had a white-ball resurgence of sorts winning the Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament at the start of 2022 and they have been on song this tournament. Sindh, led by Saud Shakeel, are third on the six-team points table due to a lesser net run rate but are locked on six points with Balochistan. They had a terrific start with wins over Southern Punjab and Northern by 42 and 10 runs, but stuttered in between – losing to Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Central Punjab. They signed off the Rawalpindi leg with a solid six-wicket win over Southern Punjab by six wickets at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Sindh will hope to build on the win against Southern Punjab and carry the momentum when they open the Multan leg by taking on Northern. Sindh have not made it to the final in any of the last three editions. Fourth-placed Northern were lacklustre at their home ground losing three of their five matches. After starting their campaign with defeats to Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they won two of their last three matches in Rawalpindi. They beat Central Punjab by three runs, lost to Balochistan by 19 runs and sealed a thriller by five runs against Southern Punjab. They won the 2019 edition of the tournament but have not made it to the final in the last two editions. Southern Punjab are fifth in the points table. They won two of their first three matches, and had the match against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa curtailed to five overs per side due to weather and ground conditions, which the latter won by seven wickets. It was one of the four games in this edition thus far, in which a total has been chased down. Central Punjab – the finalists of the last edition – have had the worst start. It is not only that they are placed at the bottom and have only managed one win, but their captain all-rounder Faheem Ashraf has also been ruled out of the tournament after splitting the webbing of his left-hand during his side’s second match of this edition. If there’s any team that would be hoping for a change of fortunes in Multan, it would be Central Punjab. Top performers Southern Punjab vice-captain and opener Zain Abbas has been one of the most consistent batters in the tournament with 241 runs at an average of 40.17. But, it is his strike rate of over 152 which has been extraordinary. The left-handed batter has scored two half-centuries. He is followed by another left-hander Saim Ayub of Sindh, who has brought his 237 runs at even quicker strike rate of 160.13. Twenty-year-old Saim has also made two half-centuries and is averaging 39.50. Central Punjab’s top-order batter Tayyab Tahir is third on the list with 214 at 42.80 runs per dismissal. He is the only batter this tournament to score three half-centuries and his strike rate stands at 140. Experienced fast bowler Sohail Khan has made his experience count for Sindh. The 39-year-old leads the chart for most wicket-takers with 10 scalps at 17 runs per dismissal. His strike rate of 11.10 reflects that he has been getting a wicket every second over. Southern Punjab captain and off-spinner Salman Ali Agha, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Imran and right-arm fast bowler of Southern Punjab Sameen Gul have nine wickets each, while Ahmed Daniyal of Central Punjab and Imran Khan Snr of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are the next best with eight wickets each.

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI:-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s extraordinary run in the Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23 continued as they completed the Rawalpindi leg of the tournament on Wednesday with five wins from as many matches. Mohammad Sarwar Afridi’s whirlwind 38 not out helped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa put the first 200-plus score of this year’s edition. Balochistan fell 27 runs short of the 202-run target. Saim Ayub’s half-century scripted Sindh’s six-wicket win over Southern Punjab in the second match of the day. This is Sindh’s third win of the tournament. The action now moves to Multan from 10 September. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the winners of the last two editions, sit comfortably at the top of the points table with 10 points. Balochistan follow them with six points. Sindh, locked with Balochistan on points, are third, while Northern and Southern Punjab are fourth and fifth. Central Punjab, who could manage only one win in five matches, are languishing at the bottom. Sarwar Afridi’s swashbuckling 11-ball 38 not out stuns Balochistan While Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s perfect title defence continued, they also recorded the first 200-plus score of the tournament, thanks to a scintillating 38 not out in just 11 balls by Mohammad Sarwar Afridi. Sarwar spanked three sixes and smashed four fours to lift Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to 201 for five after his captain Khalid Usman elected to bat. Aamer Azmat, who made 13-ball 22 not out, duly supported him, as the two added 49 runs in the last 19 balls. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, despite losing Mohammad Haris in the first over, were provided a solid start from Sahibzada Farhan (48 off 33) and Kamran Ghulam (57 off 38) with an 84-run second wicket stand. Farhan struck seven fours and Kamran’s destructive half-century was studded with four sixes and as many fours. When it came to defending the towering target, pacers Mohammad Imran and Imran Khan Snr provided their side regular breakthroughs as Balochistan were bowled out for 174 with seven balls spare. Mohammad Imran finished with four for 28 and Imran Khan Snr returned two for 29. Sarwar made his presence felt in the second innings as well with two wickets, however, he was a touch expensive leaking 43 runs in four overs. Balochistan captain Yasir Shah and Haris Sohail scored 44 off 27 and 39 off 19. All-rounder Hussain Talat and Kashif Bhatti made 24 each, off 17 and nine balls, respectively, but Balochistan never fully recovered from the top order collapse with Asad Shafiq, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai and Haseebullah falling inside 14 balls. Saim Ayub guides Sindh to third win Left-handed opener Saim Ayub played a brilliant knock of 56 in Sindh’s six-wicket win over Southern Punjab. Saim struck seven fours and two sixes and provided a solid start to the run chase with Sharjeel Khan, who blasted 49 in 26 balls (four fours and four sixes). The pair added 83 runs for the first wicket before Omair Bin Yousuf’s 54 not out in 35 balls (four fours and two sixes) ensured Sindh retained the momentum and overhauled the 176-run target with four balls spare. Southern Punjab, after being asked to bat, made 175 for six at the back of 48 each from opener Zain Abbas and all-rounder Hassan Khan. While Zain’s 48 took 34 balls and included five fours and a six, Hassan stroked his unbeaten 48 in just 29 balls and smashed two sixes and as many fours. Mohammad Ilyas, once again, displayed his power-hitting abilities, smashing two sixes and two fours in his 11-ball 25 not out. Southern Punjab found themselves in a spot of bother when Abrar Ahmed’s leg-spin sent Mohammad Shehzad and Salman Ali Agha back to the pavilion in the seventh over with the scorecard reading 42 for three. Zain held one end and got the support from Sharoon Siraj, who made 23 off 17, before Hassan lifted Southern Punjab to 175. Scores in brief: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Balochistan by 27 runs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 201-5, 20 overs (Kamran Ghulam 57, Sahibzada Farhan 48, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 38 not out, Aamer Azmat 22 not out; Haris Sohail 2-10, Kashif Bhatti 2-25) Balochistna 174 all out, 18.5 overs (Yasir Shah 44, Haris Sohail 39, Kashif Bhatti 24, Hussain Talat 24; Mohammad Imran 4-28, Imran Khan Snr 2-29) Player of the match – Mohammad Sarwar Afridi (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Sindh beat Southern Punjab by 6 wickets Southern Punjab 175-6, 20 overs (Hassan Khan 48 not out, Zain Abbas 48, Mohammad Ilyas 25 not out, Sharoon Siraj 23; Abrar Ahmed 3-30) Sindh 181-4, 19.2 overs (Saim Ayub 56, Omair Bin Yousuf 54 not out, Sharjeel Khan 49; Hassan Khan 2-21) Player of the match – Saim Ayub (Sindh)

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI:-Qasim Akram’s Central Punjab finally opened their account in the Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23 with an 11-run win over Sindh, thanks to Shoaib Malik’s all-round performance, at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Aamir Jamal’s exceptional performances with bat and ball – 47 not out off 17 and three for 27 – sealed a thriller for Northern as they beat Southern Punjab by five runs. Shoaib Malik leads Central Punjab to maiden win Experienced all-rounder Shoaib Malik blasted 54 not out off 33 (four fours and two sixes) to lift Central Punjab to 188 for five and then got the crucial wicket of dangerous-looking Saim Ayub in his one for 16 off two overs in Central Punjab’s 11-run triumph over Sindh. Shoaib and Irfan Khan Niazi, who scored a blazing 33 not out off 14 hitting four sixes, added 64 runs in the last 29 balls to help Central Punjab post a towering score. Central Punjab were dealt serious blows in the first and third over as Sohail Khan accounted for openers Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Akhlaq, but a solid 67-run partnership between Mohammad Faizan and Tayyab Tahir rescued the side from a collapse. Faizan was instrumental in the attacking partnership with his brilliant 55 at a staggering strike rate of 229. He struck four sixes and six fours in his 24-ball knock before falling to leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who also dismissed Central Punjab captain Qasim Akram. Tayyab, the top-scorer in the tournament, made 33 off 28, hitting two fours and a six. Sarfaraz Ahmed top-scored in the match with an unbeaten 62, compiled at a strike rate of 168, but the lack of support from the other end allowed Central Punjab to earn their first win after four defeats. Sindh looked on track of scaling down the target but the dismissal of Saim in the seventh over altered the course of the match. Sindh, at the time of Saim’s wicket were cruising at 62 off just 6.3 overs. Saad Khan was bowled by Usama Mir in the next over and in the 15th over he sent Omair Bin Yousuf (37 off 29) and Danish Aziz back to the pavilion as Sindh slipped to 122 for five. Usama finished with three for 34. Aamir Jamal’s quick-fire 47 not out, 3-27 hand Northern thrilling win All-rounder Aamir Jamal was the star for Northern as his brilliance with bat and ball won Northern a thriller against Southern Punjab by five runs. Aamir’s swashbuckling 47 not out off 17 – studded with four sixes and five fours – lifted Northern to 187 for eight after his captain Umar Amin, who stroked a half-century, elected to bat. Northern were in a spot of bother with openers Zeeshan Malik and Hasan Nawaz dismissed in the first two overs, but a 51-run partnership for the third wicket between Nasir Nawaz (13 off 17) and Umar (52 off 42) rescued the innings and provided a platform to Mubasir Khan (34 off 18) and Aamir to go berserk in the latter half. When it came to defending the total, Aamer, later named player of the match, with the dismissals of Zain Abbas, Sharoon Siraj and Zeeshan Ashraf across his eight deliveries derailed Southern Punjab’s innings despite a promising beginning after Zain (81 off 46) and Mohammad Shehzad (28 off 24) added 111 runs for the first wicket. Zain’s 81 was studded with six sixes and as many fours, while Muhammad Imran, with 12-ball 24, provided Southern Punjab fans a glimpse of hope, but was dismissed by Zaman Khan in the 18th over. Zaman, like Aamir, also took three wickets, while experienced all-rounder Sohail Tanvir took two wickets for 39. Scores in brief: Central Punjab beat Sindh by 11 runs Central Punjab 188-5, 20 overs (Mohammad Faizan 55, Shoaib Malik 54 not out, Irfan Khan Niazi 33 not out, Tayyab Tahir 33; Abrar Ahmed 2-34, Sohail Khan 2-55) Sindh 177-8, 20 overs (Sarfaraz Ahmed 62 not out, Omair Bin Yousuf 37, Saim Ayub 35, Anwar Ali 20; Usama Mir 3-34, Mohammad Ali 2-32) Player of the match – Shoaib Malik (Central Punjab) Northern beat Southern Punjab by 5 runs Northern 187-8, 20 overs (Umar Amin 52, Aamir Jamal 47 not out, Mubasir Khan 34; Sameen Gul 3-27, Ali Majid 2-22) Southern Punjab 182 all out, 19.5 overs (Zain Abbas 81, Mohammad Shehzad 28, Mohammad Imran 24; Aamir Jamal 3-27, Zaman Khan 3-38, Sohail Tanvir 2-39) Player of the match – Aamir Jamal (Northern)

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI:-Balochistan and Northern have been fined PKR10,000 for maintaining slow over rate during their Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23 match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium yesterday. Both teams were one over short of their target after taking into account time allowances and, as such, were charged under Article 2.22 of the PCB Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which deals with the minimum over-rate offences. Yasir Shah and Umer Amin, captains of Balochistan and Northern, accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Mohammad Anees. The charges were levelled by on-field umpires Faisal Afridi and Aalay Haider, third umpire Saqib Khan and fourth umpire Nasir Hussain.

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI:-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continued their excellent run in the Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23 recording their fourth straight win when they defeated Southern Punjab by seven wickets at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in a contest reduced to five overs because of wet outfield. In the second match of the day, Hussain Talat’s three for 17 pipped Sohail Tanvir’s highest T20 score (74 not out) in Balochistan’s third win of the tournament. Following the completion of the 12th match, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are perched at the top of the table and are followed by Balochistan, who have six points from three wins. With four points – coming from two wins – Southern Punjab and Sindh are placed at third and fourth. Northern are fifth with one win, while winless Central Punjab are placed at the bottom. Mohammad Imran’s guile too good for Southern Punjab batters Left-arm pacer Mohammad Imran made the most of the variations in his arsenal and denied any scoring opportunities to Southern Punjab batters as his 12 balls leaked only 13 runs and accounted for Hassan Khan. Southern Punjab, asked to bat, could muster 41 runs for the loss of four wickets in five overs, which, in the end, proved to be a cakewalk for defending champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Aamer Azmat, unbeaten on 14 off 10, dragged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the line with three balls spare and seven wickets in hand. Right-arm pacer, Mohammad Ilyas, accounted for Sahibzada Farhan and Sarwar Afridi and was the only bowler in the match to take two wickets. Hussain bowls Balochistan to 19-run win Hussain Talat dismissed Rohail Nazir and Umar Amin in the sixth over and sent Hasan Nawaz packing in the eighth over in an extraordinary batting collapse that formed the basis of Balochistan’s third win of the tournament. Sohail Tanvir registered his highest T20 score with 74 off 42 and hit six sixes and three fours, but such was the magnitude of the top order collapse that it couldn’t save Northern. Aamir Jamal with 35 off 21 was the other batter to show some resistance but all Northern could manage was 162 for seven. Hussain returned three for 17, while his fellow pacer Khurram Shahzad picked up two wickets for 28. It was a solid half-century at the top of the order from Haseebullah and blistering knocks from Shan Masood (45 not out at a strike rate of 155) and Haris Sohail (34 at a strike rate of 179) that lifted Balochistan to 181 for three after they were asked to bat. Haseebullah and Asad Shafiq (34 off 28) added 62 runs for the first wicket in 8.4 overs. Young Haseebullah continued to play the anchor’s role till he was dismissed by Sohail Tanvir on the first ball of the 15th over. Balochistan were 109 at that point. Shan and Haris made their experience count and added 72 runs at a run rate of over 11. Shan hit six fours in his 29-ball knock and Haris’ 19-ball innings was studded with four fours and a six. Scores in brief: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Southern Punjab by 7 wickets Southern Punjab 41-4, 5 overs (Mohammad Ilyas 13 not out; Imran Khan Snr 1-12, Mohammad Imran 1-13) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 44-3, 4.3 overs (Aamer Azmat 14 not out; Mohammad Ilyas 2-14; Sameen Gul 1-15) Player of the match – Mohammad Imran (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Balochistan beat Northern by 19 runs Balochistan 181-3, 20 overs (Haseebullah 52, Shan Masood 45 not out, Haris Sohail 34 not out, Asad Shafiq 34) Northern 162-7, 20 overs (Sohail Tanvir 74 not out, Aamir Jamal 35, Hasan Nawaz 24; Hussain Talat 3-17, Khurram Shahzad 2-28) Player of the match – Haseebullah (Balochistan) and Sohail Tanvir (Northern)   Points table     Teams P W L Points NRR 1 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 4 4 0 8 0.633 2 Balochistan 4 3 1 6 0.132 3 Southern Punjab 4 2 2 4 0.906 4 Sindh 4 2 2 4 0.365 5 Northern 4 1 3 2 -0.368 6 Central Punjab 4 0 4 0 -1.434  

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI:-Northern recorded their first win of the Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23 – thanks to Ali Imran’s superb half-century. They defeated Central Punjab by three runs at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in a rain-reduced match on Sunday. In the second match of the day, Adil Amin’s quickfire 40 not out helped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to third consecutive win as they defeated Sindh by six wickets. Central Punjab fall agonisingly short; lose fourth in a row Tayyab Tahir’s third half-century of the tournament – the most for any batter – went in vain as Central Punjab lost to Northern by three runs. The Central Punjab opener scored 53 off 39 (six fours and a six) and stitched a crucial 82-run second wicket partnership with Abdullah Shafiq (33 off 23, five fours) in a contest curtailed to 16 overs because of rain. Northern’s Ali Imran – later named player of the match – smashed 56 at a strike rate of over 164 after Central Punjab captain Qasim Akram elected to bowl. Ali struck three sixes and as many fours in his 34-ball knock before he was dismissed by Mohammad Ali – who returned three for 33 – in the penultimate over. He added 39 runs with opener Hasan Nawaz (24 off 23) and 47 with Mubasir Khan (18 off 17) in what was an extraordinary rearguard after Northern were reduced to 10 for two in nine balls. Sohail Tanvir made his experience count down the order spanking 20 runs off eight deliveries (two fours and a six). Adil Amin leads Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to third straight win It was Adil Amin’s sparkling 40 n0t out off 24 that helped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa surmount 152-run target with eight balls spare. Player of the match Adil smashed three four and two sixes as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa crossed the line with six wickets in hand. Adil was provided a solid platform for the run chase by openers Sahibzada Farhan (45 off 34) and Mohammad Haris (37 off 29) as they added 82 for the first wicket. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had a scare in the 11th over when both were dismissed by leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood. Sind’s Saad Khan top-scored with 40 off 36 and wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed made 27 not out off 24 after captain Saud Shakeel elected to bat. The other notable batters in Sindh’s innings were opener Saim Ayub (23 off 20), Saud (20 off 15) and Danish Aziz (21 not ouf off 15). Scores in brief: Northern beat Central Punjab by 3 runs Northern 146-7, 16 overs (Ali Imran 56, Hasan Nawaz 24, Sohail Tanvir 20 not out; Mohammad Ali 3-33, Ali Asfand 2-24, Aamer Yamin 2-30) Central Punjab 143-5, 16 overs (Tayyab Tahir 53, Abdullah Shafique 33; Salman Irshad 2-27) Player of the match – Ali Imran (Northern) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Sindh by 6 wickets Sindh 151-4, 20 overs (Saad Khan 40, Sarfaraz Ahmed 27 not out, Saim Ayub 23, Danish Aziz 21 not out, Saud Shakeel 20; Mohammad Imran 2-30) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 154-4, 18.4 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 45, Adil Amin 40 not out, Mohammad Haris 37; Zahid Mehmood 2-32) Player of the match – Adil Amin (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) Monday’s fixtures Khyber Pakhtunkhwa v Southern Punjab at 0930 Balochistan v Northern at 1345

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI:-Central Punjab captain Faheem Ashraf has been ruled out of the Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23. The all-rounder was hit by a ball during his side’s match against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Pindi Cricket Stadium which split his webbing. Faheem has been advised 12-day rest after which he will begin rehabilitation. Faheem has been replaced by Asad Raza, who has been promoted from Central Punjab’s second XI team. In the second XI team, Bilawal Bhatti has replaced Asad.

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI:-Shan Masood continued his impressive form Friday as his 39-ball 53 not out handed Balochistan a five-wicket win over Sindh at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. This was the first win for a chasing side in the Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23. The second match of the day belonged to Southern Punjab captain Salman Ali Agha as his incredible bowling figures of five for 10 scripted a commanding 86-run win over Central Punjab. This was all-rounder’s maiden five-fer. Shan steers Balochistan to second win That Balochistan won their second match of the tournament was due to Shan Masood’s unbeaten 53 off 39 as the left-handed batter steered his side to the win in the penultimate over. As Balochistan crossed the line with seven balls spare, they also became the first team in this year’s edition of the National T20 to successfully chase a target. Player of the match Shan walked in the middle with Balochistan needing 103 in 14.3 overs after the dismissal of second opener Asad Shafiq (17 off 14) and displayed some fabulous strokeplay hitting four fours and two sixes. The shot of the innings came when he reverse-swept Zahid Mehmood for a six that sailed over point. Following the quick wickets of Haris Sohail (10 off 15) and Hussain Talat (two off three) in the 15th and 16th overs, Shan got the desired support from Amad Butt, who spanked three fours and a six in his quickfire 12-ball 25 not out. Sindh, following their captain Saud Shakeel’s decision to bat, made 142 for seven with Saad Khan (31 off 27) and Sarfaraz Ahmed (29 off 23) being the notable performers with the bat. Balochistan put up a disciplined bowling performance with captain Yasir Shah, left-arm orthodox Kashif Bhatti and pacer Khurram Shahzad picking up two wickets each. Salman’s maiden five-fer, Zain’s heroics with the bat down Central Punjab Opener Zain Abbas smashed 65 off 44 (10 fours) as Southern Punjab set 166 for Central Punjab. They were skittled out for mere 79 in 14.3 overs thanks to a terrific show with the ball by Salman Ali Agha. Southern Punjab made 165-8 after Salman elected to bat. Sharoon Siraj continued to add crucial runs in the middle order as in this match, he scored 35 off 24. In the last two matches, he made 57 not out against Balochistan, and 36 against Sindh. Central Punjab’s openers Abdullah Shafique and Ahmed Shehzad once again could not provide a solid start as the latter was run out at the start of the third over, but it was the seventh over that settled the match for Southern Punjab when Salman dismissed his opposite number Qasim Akram and Abdullah in a space of three balls. The scorecard, at the time, read 34 for five. Salman, in his next over, sent Irfan Niaz and Junaid Ali back to the pavilion on back to back deliveries, and dismissed Wahab Riaz in the 11th over as Central Punjab were reduced to 51 for eight. There was no notable resistance from any Central Punjab batter as Usama Mir, a leg-spinner, top scored with 17 off 13. Scores in brief: Balochistan beat Sindh by 5 wickets Sindh 142-7, 20 overs (Saad Khan 31, Sarfaraz Ahmed 29; Yasir Shah 2-23, Kashif Bhatti 2-23, Khurram Shahzad 2-27) Balochistan 143-5, 18.5 overs (Shan Masood 53 not out, Amad Butt 25 not out; Sohail Khan 2-35) Player of the match – Shan Masood (Balochistan) Southern Punjab beat Central Punjab by 86 runs Southern Punjab 165-8, 20 overs (Zain Abbas 65, Sharoon Siraj 35; Ahmed Daniyal 3-27, Wahab Riaz 2-37) Central Punjab 79 all out, 14.3 overs (Salman Ali Agha 5-10) Player of the match – Salman Ali Agha (Southern Punjab)

Sports Bulletin Report RAWALPINDI:-Sindh’s Sarfaraz Ahmed has been fined 30 per cent of match fee for a level 1 breach of the PCB’s Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel during his side’s Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23 match against Balochistan at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Friday. Sarfaraz was charged for violating Article 2.3 that reads as, “Use of audible obscenity”. The incident took place in the first innings of the match when he was dismissed. Since Sarfaraz pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted the sanctions proposed by match referee Nadeem Arshad, there was no need of a formal hearing. The charge was imposed by on-field umpires Mohammad Asif and Imtiaz Iqbal, third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Nasir Hussain. Balochistan defeated Sindh by five wickets.