Lahore, 4 October 2023: The third round of the National U19 Cup was played in five cities - Karachi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Sargodha on 3 October 2023. The 18 teams playing the tournament have been sorted in three groups. Following the completion of the third round, Karachi Whites top the table for group A, owing to better NRR compared to Faisalabad and Quetta, with each having two wins in three games thus far. In group B, Rawalpindi, having better NRR than Multan, have secured the first position on the table. Lastly, Abbottabad remain the most successful side in the third group after securing three wins in as many matches.
Group A
After completion of the third round, Karachi Whites sit at the top of the table for group A despite losing their last match, which was played against Hyderabad at United Bank Limited Sports Complex, Karachi. Syed Tayyab Hussain’s half-century (52, 50b, 5x4s) went in vain as Hyderabad won the game by three wickets. Karachi scored 206 runs, which was chased by Hyderabad in 45.2 overs. Zain ul Abideen (93, 122b, 11x4s, 2x6s) and Ubaidullah Khan (53, 45b, 6x4s, 2x6s) were the high scorers for the winning side. Heesab Khan and Wahaj Ahmed got three wickets a piece. Hyderabad, after registering their first win in the cup, remain on the sixth place.
At Karachi City Association Cricket Ground, Faisalabad defeated FATA by three wickets. Hassan Ali got three wickets in the first innings, which helped restrict FATA to 181. The winning side chased the target on the back of a half century by Mohammad Abubakr Dar (50, 37b, 4x4s, 1x6). He was supported by Mohammad Ibtisam ul Rehman who scored an unbeaten 38 from 51 balls, including three fours. Consequently, Faisalabad stand second on the table while FATA are fifth on the table.
Quetta defeated AJK by 113 runs, at the PCB academy ground, Karachi. They stand third and fourth on the table respectively. Quetta scored 232 in the first innings, on the back of half-centuries by Ikram Ullah Khan Tareen (51, 62b, 6x4s, 1x6) and Adil Ahmed (58 not out, 7b, 3x4s, 1x6). In return, it took AJK only 32.4 overs to be bowled out after scoring only 119 runs. Anwar Shah grabbed three wickets.
Group B
Rawalpindi have secured the top spot at the table for group B after defeating Lahore Blues at the Saeed Ajmal Cricket Academy, Faisalabad. Owing to a collective bowling performance, led by Mohammad Umar Habib who got three wickets, Rawalpindi bowled out Lahore Blues for just 147 runs. Later, they chased the target in 34 overs. Hammad Rafique hit an unbeaten half-century (58 not out, 82b, 6x4s) to steer the side to a comfortable victory against Lahore Blues, who now occupy the fourth spot on the table.
Multan stand second on the table after winning against Islamabad at the Bohranwali Ground, Faisalabad. Multan were able to bowl out Islamabad for 172 runs, courtesy of a four-wicket-haul by Mohammad Jan Sher. The side then chased the target in just 45.2 overs; Moheer Saeed (81, 122b, 9x4s) and Sameer Minhas (45 not out, 94b, 2x4s) were the high scorers in the game as Multan won by six wickets. Islamabad have been demoted to the last spot.
Larkana, after defeating Peshawar by four wickets at the Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad, sit on the third spot, while Peshawar remain at the fifth spot. Peshawar was bowled out for a measly 103 runs as Aftab Hussain returned with four wickets and Shahzaib Aziz grabbed three wickets. In turn, Larkana easily chased the target in 31.5 overs. Najaf Ali, who scored 33 in 51 balls including four boundaries and a maximum, was the highest scorer of the innings.
Group C
Abbottabad reign on top of the third group after defeating DM Jamali by 32 runs, at the Sargodha Sports Stadium. Farhan Ghani (41, 69b, 4x4s) and Shujah Zaheer (38, 46b, 1x4) helped take Abbottabad to 189. The bowlers effectively defended the target, bowling out DM Jamali for just 157 runs. Aftab Ahmed and Mohammad Salman both grabbed four wickets each. Earlier, Muzamil Ali had also taken a four-wicket-haul which went in vain. DM Jamali sit on the fifth spot. Abbottabad remain undefeated in the cup, so far.
At the Jinnah Stadium Gujranwala, Sialkot defeated Karachi Blues by nine wickets. Consequently, Sialkot have secured the second spot on the table while Karachi Blue occupy the last spot. Moosa Azeem registered a five-wicket-haul and Ali Raza got a four-fer as Karachi were bowled out for 109 runs. In turn, Sialkot easily chased the target, courtesy of Mohammad Tayyab Arif (41 not out, 43b, 6x4s) and Moosa (44 not out, 57b, 4x4s, 2x6s).
Bahawalpur inflicted a heavy defeat of 108 runs over Lahore Whites, at the Rana Naveed Cricket Academy Sheikhupura. Subsequently, the former sit on the third spot while the latter remain at the fourth. Bahawalpur scored 303 runs in the first innings, owing to a century by Hamza Nawaz (100, 114b, 12x4s, 1x6). He was supported by Mohammad Danish, who scored an unbeaten 84 (63b, 8x4s, 2x6s). In return, Lahore Whites could only score 195 before they got out-bowled. Haseeb Ahmed, Naseer Khan and Taha Masood Khan got two wickets each.
Fourth round of fixtures, to be played on 10 October 2023, is as follows:
Group A
Karachi Whites U19 v AJK U19 at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi
Faisalabad U19 v Hyderabad U19 at KCCA Stadium, Karachi
Quetta U19 v FATA U19 at Oval Ground, Karachi
Group B
Lahore Blues U19 v Multan U19 at Saeed Ajmal Academy, Faisalabad
Rawalpindi U19 v Larkana U19 at Bohranwala Ground, Faisalabad
Islamabad U19 v Peshawar U19 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad
Group C
Abbottabad v Karachi Blues U19 at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala
Lahore Whites U19 v Sialkot U19 at Rana Naved ul Hasan Cricket Academy, Sheikhupura
Bahawalpur U19 v Dera Murad Jamali U19 at Sports Stadium, Sargodha
