Faisalabad, 16 March 2025: The third day of the Bank Alfalah presents Inverex Solar Energy National T20 Cup 2024-25 saw action in Multan and Faisalabad with a double header taking place at each of the venues on Sunday night.
Lahore Blues and Karachi Whites emerged victorious from Group B, while in Group C, Abbottabad and Faisalabad bagged victories.
Group B – Faisalabad
Lahore Region Blues v Bahawalpur Region
Lahore Blues got over the line against Bahawalpur as they chased the meagre 98-run target in just 9.4 overs. Imran Butt top scored with 48 not out off 32 balls hitting eight fours and also partnered with Umar Siddiq (41, 16b, 3x4s, 4x6s) for a fiery 72-run opening stand.
Earlier, player of the match Qasim Akram and pacer Mohammad Salman Mirza returned combined figures of 6-24 to bamboozle the Bahawalpur batters. Qasim gave away just six runs in his four overs taking three scalps, while Salman took his three wickets for 18 runs in 3.2 overs.
Karachi Region Whites v Dera Murad Jamali Region
Karachi Whites beat Dera Mura Jamali by six wickets to register their second victory in the tournament. Player of the match Saqib Khan spearheaded Karachi Whites’ bowling effort with figures of 3-23 in four overs as they restricted DM Jamali to 132-7 in allotted 20 overs.
In turn, Karachi Whites scaled the target in 17.3 overs. Khurram Manzoor top scored with 42 off 32 balls with the help of seven fours and one six, while Shan Masood struck four sixes and two fours in his breezy 19-ball 38.
Debutant Haroon Arshad remained unbeaten for 21 hitting two boundaries.
Group C – Multan
Rawalpindi Region v Abbottabad Region
In the first match at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad made light work of Rawalpindi winning the game by seven wickets and 41 balls to spare. Abbottabad’s pace duo of Arshad Iqbal (3-12) and Shahab Khan (3-21) struck regularly to restrict Rawalpindi to 104 all out in 18,3 overs.
In turn, Abbottabad’s Kamran Ghulam safely guided his team home with an unbeaten 27-ball 37 inclusive of three fours and one six.
Faisalabad Region v Hyderabad Region
Faisalabad romped to a 62-run victory over Hyderabad as they successfully defended their total of 199-4. After Faisalabad were asked to bat first, opening batter Mohammad Faizan set the tone for a high score hitting seven fours and three sixes in his 36-ball 57.
Skipper Asif Ali, who walked in to bat at 109-3, tonked five sixes and three fours notch unbeaten 60 off just 24 balls. He also partnered with Raees Ahmed (20 not out, 10b, 3x4s) for an unbeaten 67-run stand for fifth wicket.
In reply, Hyderabad could only manage 137-8 in 20 overs as Ibtisam Rehman (2-17), Muhammad Awais Zafar (2-22) and Shehzad Gul (2-29) shared six wickets among them.
Scores in brief
Match 5 – Abbottabad Region beat Rawalpindi Region by seven wickets at the Multan Cricket Stadium
Rawalpindi 104 all out, 18.3 overs (Mubasir Khan 24, Taimur Khan 23; Arshad Iqbal 3-12, Shahab Khan 3-21)
Abbottabad 105-3, 13.1 overs (Kamran Ghulam 37 not out; Saad Masood 1-13)
Player of the match – Arshad Iqbal (Abbottabad)
Match 6 – Lahore Region Blues beat Bahawalpur Region by nine wickets at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
Bahawalpur 97 all out, 18.2 overs (Muhammad Imran 22; Qasim Akram 3-6, Mohammad Salman Mirza 3-18)
Lahore Blues 98-1, 9.4 overs (Imran Butt 48 not out, Umar Siddiq 41; Salahuddin 1-17)
Player of the match – Qasim Akram (Lahore Blues)
Match 7 – Faisalabad Region beat Hyderabad Region by 62 runs at the Multan Cricket Stadium
Faisalabad 199-4, 20 overs (Asif Ali 60 not out, Mohammad Faizan 57, Muhammad Awais Zafar 27, Raees Ahmed 20 not out; Noman Ali 2-37)
Hyderabad 137-8, 20 0vers (Sharjeel Khan 32, Rizwan Mehmood 29; Ibtisam Rehman 2-17, Muhammad Awais Zafar 2-22, Shehzad Gul 2-29)
Player of the match – Asif Ali (Faisalabad)
Match 8 – Karachi Region Whites beat Dera Murad Jamali Region by six wickets at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
DM Jamli 132-7, 20 overs (Basit Ali 29, Dawood Khan 29; Saqib Khan 3-23)
Karachi Whites 135-4, 17.3 overs (Khurram Manzoor 42, Shan Masood 38, Haroon Arshad 21 not out; Rasool Bakash 2-22)
Player of the match – Saqib Khan (Karachi Whites)
Monday’s fixtures:
FATA Region v Azad Jammu and Kashmir Region at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore; 4.30pm
Karachi Regiom Blues v Quetta Region at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad; 7pm
Multan Region v Sialkot Region at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore: 9pm
Lahore Region Whites v Larkana Region at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad; 11pm
