Sports Bulletin Report
KARACHI: Khyber Pakhtunkawa (KPK) and Islamabad have won their matches on the Day-3 of A S Ali Blind Cricket Trophy National One-Day here after beating their respective opponents at two different venues on Wednesday.
KPK beat Balochistan by 134 runs at PAF Faisal Base Sports Ground: The 5th match of the tournament was played between Balochistan and KPK at the PAF Faisal Base Sports Ground. Balochistan won the toss and chose to bowl first. KPK displayed a formidable batting performance, posting a total of 408 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their first innings. The standout performances came from Akmal Hayat Nasir and Haroon Khan, both of whom played explosive innings. Akmal scored a magnificent 191 runs off just 129 balls, while Haroon Khan contributed a swift 102 runs off 65 balls. Their partnership was crucial in setting a robust total that put immense pressure on the Balochistan side. Balochistan's bowling attack showed determination with Kamran Akhter being the pick of the bowlers taking 3 wickets, while Niamat Ullah chipped in with 1 wicket.
In response, Balochistan struggled to keep up with the required run rate and was eventually bowled out for 270 runs in just 31.2 overs. Naseeb Ullah emerged as the top scorer for Balochistan, making 65 runs off 43 balls. Naeem Ullah and Fasih Ullah also made valuable contributions, scoring 51 off 48 balls and 38 off 28 balls, respectively. KPK's bowling unit was disciplined and effective led by Muhammad Ayyaz who took 3 wickets. Haroon Khan demonstrated his all-round capabilities by claiming 2 wickets while Mohsin, Idrees and Amjad each contributed 1 wicket. Akmal Hayat Nasir was judged best player of the match.
Islamabad beat Sindh by 55 runs at NED Cricket Ground: In a thrilling encounter, Islamabad triumphed over Sindh by 55 runs in a high-scoring match. After winning the toss, Sindh chose to put Islamabad into bat, a decision that proved challenging as Islamabad set a formidable total of 501 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets in their 40 overs. Moain Aslam was the standout performer for Islamabad, showcasing his remarkable batting skill with a stunning unbeaten 224 runs off just 121 balls. Captain Mati Ullah complimented him with an impressive unbeaten 148 runs off 93 balls, making significant contributions to the score. Their partnership was instrumental in achieving the massive total while Fakhar Abbas from Sindh claimed the only wicket for his side.
In response, Sindh mounted a commendable chase finishing their innings at 446 runs all out in 38.2 overs. Ayoub Khan was the star for Sindh scoring a brilliant 144 runs off 82 balls well supported by Zafar Iqbal, who contributed 84 runs off 66 balls. Despite their valiant efforts and a spirited chase Sindh fell short of the target set by Islamabad. On the bowling front for Islamabad, Imran was the most effective bowler, taking 3 wickets while Sanwal, Imran and Kashif each chipped in with 1 wicket. Moain Aslam got man of the match award.
