- Urdu round-up is attached here
Lahore, 10 March 2022: Centuries from Haseebullah and Asad Shafiq led Balochistan to a 105-run win over Southern Punjab in the fifth round match of the Pakistan Cup at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. In other matches, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won their matches against Central Punjab and Northern, respectively.
After being put into bat, Balochistan scored 320 for four in 50 overs. Opening batter Haseebullah top-scored with a 134-ball 142, hitting 20 fours and one six. The left-handed batter added 182 runs for the third wicket with Asad Shafiq, who returned undefeated on 101. The right-handed Asad innings included 15 fours and one six that came off 78 balls. Imran Butt and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai were other contributors with the bat, scoring 34 runs each.
In turn, Southern Punjab were dismissed for 215 in the 41st over. Sharoon Siraj batting at number three top-scored with a 72-ball 62. He struck eight fours and knitted a 70-run partnership for the second wicket with Tayyab Tahir who scored a 42-ball 37, hitting three fours and two sixes. Coming to bat at number six, Khushdil Shah scored a quick-fire 50 off 39, smashing two fours and three sixes.
Balochistan’s captain and leg-spinner Yasir Shah grabbed five wickets for 44. He was supported by left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti who bagged three wickets for 46.
At the Multan Cricket Stadium, Sindh beat Central Punjab by three wickets on the back of three wickets apiece from Abrar Ahmed and Shahnawaz Dahani. Batting first, Central Punjab were bowled out for 134 in the 29th over. Umar Akmal top-scored with a 36-ball 39, hitting four fours and three sixes. Opening batter Rizwan Hussain contributed 28 off 36, which included three fours.
Beside Abrar and Shahnawaz, Sohail Khan was other wicket taker ended-up taking two wickets for 33 from six overs.
In turn, Sindh achieved the target in the 36th over. Opening batter Khurram Manzoor top-scored with a 67-ball 42, smashing two fours. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Hasan returned undefeated on a 42-ball 30, hitting four fours.
Central Punjab’s Usman Qadir picked three wickets for 37. Captain Raza Ali Dar bagged two wickets for 36 from 7.1 overs.
At the House of Northern in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mohammad Sarwar Afridi struck century to lift his side to a five-wicket win over Northern. Chasing 270 to win, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa achieved the target for the loss of five wickets with three balls to spare. Sarwar batting at number four top-scored with a 126-ball 119, hitting 12 fours and one six. He was equally supported by Adil Amin who scored 60 from 70 balls, smashing three fours and one six. The pair added 139 runs for the fourth wicket. The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris scored an unbeaten 38 off 40 balls, which included two fours and one six to take his side home.
Northern’s Imad Wasim picked two wickets for 54.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Northern scored 269 for seven in 50 overs. Opening batter Umar Amin top-scored with an unbeaten 124 off 135, hitting 13 fours and two sixes. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mohammad Sarwar Afridi picked three wickets for 24 from six overs.
Scores in brief:
Balochistan beat Southern Punjab by 105 runs at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
Balochistan 320-4, 50 overs (Haseebullah 142, Asad Shafiq 101 not out, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 34, Imran Butt 34)
Southern Punjab 215 all out, 41 overs (Sharoon Siraj 62, Khushdil Shah 50, Tayyab Tahir 37; Yasir Shah 5-44, Kashif Bhatti 3-46)
Sindh beat Central Punjab by three wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium
Central Punjab 134 all out, 29 overs (Umar Akmal 39, Rizwan Hussain 28; Shahnawaz Dahani 3-22, Abrar Ahmed 3-25, Sohail Khan 2-33)
Sindh 136-7, 35.1 overs (Khurram Manzoor 42, Muhammad Hasan 30 not out, Danish Aziz 27; Usman Qadir 3-37, Raza Ali Dar 2-36)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Northern by five wickets at the House of Northern, Islamabad
Northern 269-7, 50 overs (Umair Amin 124 not out, Rohail Nazir 33, Imad Wasim 28; Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 3-24)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 273-5, 49.3 overs (Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 119, Adil Amin 60, Mohammad Haris 38 not out; Imad Wasim 2-54)
