Multan (Salman Khan): University of Lahore Pakistan Whites bagged a nervy six-run win in a nail-biting contest against Al Batal Blues in the third match of the Al Batal Presents University of Lahore National Champions Cup 2026-27 here at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.
Whites were spearheaded by their pace trio of Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Shahnawaz Dahani and Haris Rauf as they came from behind to defend their total of 245 runs, restricting Blues to 239 in 49.4 overs.
Wasim Jnr picked up his maiden five-wicket haul not just in List A but also across his competitive career by removing half-centurion Maaz Sadaqat, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Ahmed Daniyal and Sufyan Moqim.
He was backed up by Dahani, who saved 15 runs in the last over an ended with figures of 4-43 in 9.4 overs taking his tally of List A wickets to 95 in 55 matches. Dahani got Hasan Ali to sky a full toss in last over as Usman Khan pouched it safely.
Hasan had threatened to take away the game from the Whites with a brilliant 29-run knock off 28 balls including striking two of his five boundaries in the last over. He had stitched a 22-run 10th-wicket stand with Akif Javed (5 not out, 4b, 1x4) and the duo almost pulled off a memorable win.
Before Hasan and Akif came together, the Blues had lost three for 19 from a strong position, slipping from 198-6 in 42.2 overs to 217 for 9 in 46 overs. Wasim Jnr took all three scalps by first breaking the dangerous 30-run partnership between Irfan and Ahmed Daniyal (9, 27b, 1x4). He first bowled Irfan in 43rd over who was striking the ball well at 37 off 34 before falling and also struck two fours, and three sixes in his knock.
Wasim delivered a double-wicket 46th over to further dent Blues’ advance in the chase and also completed his memorable five-for.
Earlier in the chase, Maaz Sadaqat (59, 77b, 6x4s, 1x6) and Mohammad Faiq (54, 64b, 5x4s, 1x6) had put on a 99-run second-wicket partnership following Sahibzada Farhan’s (17, 19b, 4x4s) early departure in seventh over. The duo looked certain to take the game away but Wasim Jnr and Haris removed both in a space of eight balls. Blues went from 129-1 in 26.2 overs to 158-6 losing 5-29 in a stunning collapse as Dahani got Arafat Minhas (12, 14b, 2x4s) and Rohail (8, 17b).
Earlier, Pakistan Whites were challenged by the Pakistan Blues spinners, who grabbed seven wickets for 116 in 26 overs combined with Faiq’s off-spin leading the way. Meanwhile, pacers Hasan Ali and Akif Javed picked up the last two wickets to wrap up the Whites’ innings.
Shahzaib Khan resisted with a consecutive half-century, while Saad Masood, along with Haris Rauf and Waseem Jnr stretched the innings from 157-6 in 32.3 overs to a competitive total of 245 all out in 49.3 overs.
Faiq was given the new ball and he delivered two wickets in two overs - seventh and ninth – by disturbing timber in Saim Ayub’s (22, 22b, 4x4s) case and got Mohsin Riaz stumped after getting hit for a six.
Following these two strikes Whites’ batters Shahzaib and Usman Khan (29, 42b, 3x4s) put on a 73-run stand in 15.1 overs, which was then broken by Faiq. It was a point from where Blues took four for 40 in 8.5 overs removing Usman, Shahzaib and Hasan Nawaz.
Shahzaib, who hit his seventh List A half-century, was on 71 off 84 having hit three fours and three sixes when he hit Maaz Sadaqat towards long off boundary where Arafat took a spectacular catch by jumping back over the rope after grabbing the ball in the air.
Maaz picked up his second wicket when he lured Khushdil Shah – facing his fourth ball – to hand him a straight caught and bowled. Arafat got one through Hasan Nawaz’s defences on the third ball of the 33rd over to leave the Whites 157-6.
Haris and Saad then stitched a game-changing stand of 53 runs in 65 balls arresting the imminent collapse. Haris struck two fours and one six in his contribution of 27 runs off 34 balls. Saad’s stay at the crease yielded 35 runs off 46 balls including a six and a four.
Waseem Jnr was the last batter to depart after scoring a valuable 25-ball 21 hitting two fours. Faiq’s 3-36 were his best haul in List A cricket as he took his tally to 10 scalps, while Arafat backed up his Wednesday’s figures of 10-1-36-2 with 10-1-30-1 on Thursday. Apart from Maaz’s two, Sufyan, Akif and Hasan picked up one wicket each.
Scores in brief
Match 3 – UOL Pakistan Whites beat Al Batal Productions Pakistan Blues by six runs at Multan Cricket Stadium
Pakistan Whites 245 all out, 49.3 overs (Shahzaib Khan 71, Saad Masood 35, Usman Khan 29, Haris Rauf 27, Saim Ayub 22, Muhammad Waseem Jnr 21, Hasan Nawaz 20; Mohammad Faiq 3-36, Maaz Sadaqat 2-12)
Pakistan Blues 239 all out, 49.4 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 59, Mohammad Faiq 54, Muhammad Irfan Khan 37, Hasan Ali 29; Mohammad Waseem Jnr 5-46, Shahnawaz Dahani 4-43)
Player of the match – Mohammad Waseem Jnr (Pakistan Whites)
