Faisalabad, 17 March 2025: Lahore Region Whites’ Muhammad Faiq struck the second century of the Bank Alfalah presents Inverex Solar Energy National T20 Cup 2024-25 against Larkana here at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Monday night.
FATA, Karachi Region Blues, Lahore Region Whites and Sialkot Region won their matches as two double headers each were played in Faisalabad and Lahore.
Group A – Faisalabad
Karachi Region Blues v Quetta Region
In the first Group A fixture of the day, Quetta succumbed to a seven-wicket loss against Karachi Blues, who chased the 139-run total in 16.4 overs.
For Quetta Haseebullah top-scored with 46 off 42 balls hitting six fours, while Karachi Blues’ Mohammad Asghar starred with figures of 4-19 in his four overs.
In turn, Karachi Blues slipped to 52-3 before skipper Rameez Aziz (56 not out, 30b, 5x4s, 4x6s) and Saifullah Bangash (36 not out, 26b, 4x4s) stitched an unbeaten 88-run partnership to take their team home. Opening batter Abdullah Fazal had contributed with a 29-ball 40 inclusive of seven fours.
Lahore Region Whites v Larkana Region
Lahore Whites beat Larkana by a thumping 134-run margin as they rode on batting and bowling heroics of Mohammad Faiq (116 not out) and Kamran Afzal (4-17), respectively.
Faiq, who brought up his second T20 triple figure score in just fourth game, came out all guns blazing as he notched his half-century in just 20 balls, the fastest in the ongoing edition of the tournament. He hit 13 fours and seven sixes in 56-ball outing and brought up his century with a maximum, off fifty balls.
Valuable contributions from Muhammad Akhlaq (35, 26b, 2x4s, 2x6s) and skipper Tayyab Tahir (33, 16b, 5x4s, 1x6) helped Lahore Whites post 215-4 in 20 overs.
In turn, Larkana lost wickets at regular intervals as they quickly slipped to 32-7 before eventually getting bowled out for 81 in 17.5 overs with left-arm spinner Kamran Afzal taking four wickets.
Group D – Lahore
FATA Region v Azad Jammu and Kashmir Region
At the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, FATA managed a four-wicket win over Azad Jammu and Kashmir as they chased the 150-run target with 17 balls to spare.
AJK’s opening batters Hasnain Nadeem (53, 29b, 4x4s, 4x6s) and Hasan Raza (33, 30b, 2x4s, 1x6) stitched an 86-run stand before they lost all ten wickets for 63 runs. FATA’s Maaz Khan returned outstanding figures of 4-11 in his four-over spell, while Azaz Khan picked up three wickets.
In turn, player of the match Mohammad Farooq struck a blazing half-century (51) of 26 balls accumulating six fours and two sixes. He also partnered with Mohammad Naeem (30, 20b, 5x4s, 1x6) for a 76-run opening partnership.
Multan Region v Sialkot Region
Sialkot began their campaign in the tournament on a winning note as they overcame Multan at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore. Abdullah Shafique struck a valuable half-century (57, 41b, 5x4s, 2x6s) at number three as Sialkot reached the 148-run target with just three balls left.
Skipper Shoaib Malik contributed with a 33-ball 43 hitting five fours and one six. For Multan, Mohammad Ismail’s impressive spell of 4-0-22-4 went in vain.
Earlier, Multan’s no. 5 batter Muhammad Shahzad scored 55 off 42 balls inclusive of seven fours and one six, which along with Imam-ul-Haq’s 33-ball 41 helped Multan post a fighting total. Sialkot’s pace trio of Hasan Ali (3-38), Ali Raza (2-23) and Bilawal Bhatti (1-25) shared six wickets among them.
Scores in brief:
Match 9 – FATA Region beat Azad Jammu and Kashmir Region by four wickets at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore
AJK 149 all out, 20 overs (Hasnain Nadeem 53, Hasan Raza 33; Maaz Khan 4-11, Azaz Khan 3-17, Shahid Aziz 2-31)
FATA 154-6, 17.1 overs (Mohammad Farooq 51, Mohammad Nadeem 30; Aqib Liaqat 2-18, Saad Asif 2-27)
Player of the match – Mohammad Farooq (FATA Region)
Match 10 – Karachi Region Blues beat Quetta Region by seven wickets at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad
Quetta 138-9, 20 overs (Haseebullah 46, Yasir Khan 24; Mohammad Asghar 4-19)
Karachi Blues 140-3, 16.4 overs (Rameez Aziz 56 not out, Abdullah Fazal 40, Saifullah Bangash 36 not out)
Player of the match – Rameez Aziz (Karachi Blues)
Match 11 – Sialkot Region beat Multan Region by three wickets at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore
Multan 147-8, 20 overs (Muhammad Shahzad 55, Imam-ul-Haq 41, Waseem Akram Jnr 27; Hasan Ali 3-38, Ali Raza 2-23)
Sialkot 148-7, 19.3 overs (Abdullah Shafique 57, Shoaib Malik 43; Mohammad Ismail 4-22, Tahir Hussain 2-34)
Player of the match – Abdullah Shafique (Sialkot Region)
Match 12 – Lahore Region Whites beat Larkana Region by 134 runs at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad
Lahore Whites 215-4, 20 overs (Mohammad Faiq 116 not out, Muhammad Akhlaq 35, Tayyab Tahir 33, Mushtaq Ahmed 2-51)
Larkana 81 all out, 17.5 overs (Mushtaq Ahmed 19; Kamran Afzal 4-17, Mohammad Salman 2-2)
Player of the match – Mohammad Faiq (Lahore Region Whites)
Tuesday’s fixtures:
Multan Region v Azad Jammu and Kashmir Region at LCCA Ground, Lahore; 4.30pm
Karachi Region Whites v Lahore Region Blues at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; 4.30pm
Rawalpindi Region v Faisalabad Region at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; 7pm
Sialkot Region v FATA Region at LCCA Ground, Lahore; 9pm
Islamabad Region v Dera Murad Jamali Region at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; 9pm
Abbottabad Region v Hyderabad Region at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; 11pm
