Faisalabad, 17 September 2022: A 76-run partnership between Rizwan Hussain and Junaid Ali and three wickets from Mohammad Waheed helped Central Punjab beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by six runs in the 19th fixture of the Cricket Associations T20 tournament at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Saturday.
In the second fixture of the day, unbeaten half-century from Mohammad Shehzad and three wickets apiece from Ali Usman and Majid Ali orchestrated Southern Punjab’s eight-wicket win over Balochistan.
Central Punjab beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by six runs
After being asked to bat first, Central Punjab managed to score 145 for nine in 20 overs. Rizwan top-scored with a 36-ball 47, which included four sixes and one four. Wicketkeeper-batter Junaid struck four boundaries during his knock of 44 from 35 balls.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Arshadullah bagged four wickets for 20 runs. Irfanullah Shah and Usman Tariq bagged two wickets apiece.
In return, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fell six runs short of the target and were restricted to 139 for nine in 20 overs. Central Punjab’s Waheed was pick of the bowlers with three for 19. Ali Shafiq and Asad Raza took wickets each.
Southern Punjab beat Balochistan by eight wickets
Opening batter Shehzad’s unbeaten 61 off 41 helped Southern Punjab chase down the 116-run target set by Balochistan for the loss of the two wickets in the 17th over. Shehzad struck seven fours and one six at the strike rate of 148.78.
Earlier, after opting to bat, Balochistan were bowled out for 115 in the 20th over. Mohammad Ibrahim Snr and Zainullah scored 24 runs each.
Southern Punjab’s captain Ali and left-arm fast Majid grabbed three wickets each. Mohammad Jahangir took two wickets for 14 runs.
Scores in brief:
Central Punjab beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by six runs
Central Punjab 145-9, 20 overs (Rizwan Hussain 47, Junaid Ali 44; Arshadullah 4-20, Usman Tariq 2-21, Irfanullah Shah 2-25)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 139-9, 20 overs (Saqib Jamil 27, Sajjad Ali Jnr 26; Mohammad Waheed 3-19, Asad Raza 2-13, Ali Shafiq 2-32)
Southern Punjab beat Balochistan by eight wickets
Balochistan 115 all out, 19.4 overs (Mohammad Ibrahim Snr 24, Zainullah 24; Majid Ali 3-11, Ali Usman 3-33, Mohammad Jahangir 2-14)
Southern Punjab 117-2, 16.3 overs (Mohammad Shehzad 61 not out, Mohammad Umair 27 not out)
