Karachi, 23 December 2022: All-rounder Mubasir Khan’s extraordinary run in the Pakistan Cup 2022-23 continued on Friday as the 20-year-old smashed his second century in the tournament before picking up four wickets to engineer Northern’s 23-run win over Central Punjab.
Northern were lifted to 303 for seven in 50 overs as Mubasir blasted 102 not out off 62 – smashing seven sixes and five fours – after his captain Umar Amin elected to bat at the State Bank Stadium. Opener Haider Ali was the notable run-getter with 87-ball 77 (seven fours and two sixes), while Zeeshan Malik made 41 off 63 (six fours).
Leg-spinner Usama Mir took four wickets for 45.
Central Punjab were bowled out for 280 in 47.5 overs. Tayyab Tahir and Ahmed Shehzad scored half-centuries posting 61 off 70 and 54 off 50, respectively, before they fell to Mubasir, who also accounted for Qasim Akram and Aamer Yamin and returned four for 51.
Northern’s Saad Nasim and Usman Shinwari picked up three and two wickets.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rolled over Sindh by four wickets at the UBL Sports Complex. Sindh were bowled out for 233 in 42.2 overs as spinners Sajid Khan and Khalid Usman and pacer Ihsanullah equally shared nine wickets amongst them while Amir Khan took one wicket.
Danish Aziz top-scored with 61-ball 53 (two fours and four sixes). Openers Saim Ayub and Sharjeel Khan scored 35 each off 27 and 23 balls.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ticked off the target in 36.1 overs with Israrullah and Waqar Ahmed providing the momentum with a 92-run partnership. Israrullah made 61 off 59 and Waqar scored 59 off 45.
Balochistan chased down Southern Punjab’s 219 with six wickets in hand at the NBP Sports Complex. Imran Butt top-scored with 101-ball 72 in the run chase and was duly supported by Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (37 off 58), Bismillah Khan (33 off 35) and Haseebullah (33 off 48).
Southern Punjab were bowled out in 45.5 overs as Kashif Bhatti and Yasir Shah – the two spinners – equally shared six wickets. Mohammad Junaid took two wickets.
Arafat Minhas and Usman Salahuddin made 82 and 80.
Scores in brief:
Northern beat Central Punjab by 23 runs at State Bank Stadium
Northern 303-7, 50 overs (Mubasir Khan 102 not out, Haider Ali 77, Zeeshan Malik 41, Umar Amin 34; Usama Mir 4-45)
Central Punjab 280 all out, 47.5 overs (Tayyab Tahir 61, Ahmed Shehzad 54, Zafar Gohar 39, Junaid Ali 28, Waqas Maqsood 23 not out, Mohammad Faizan 22; Mubasir Khan 4-51, Saad Nasim 3-43, Usman Shinwari 2-56)
Player of the match - Mubasir Khan (Northern)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Sindh by four wickets at the UBL Sports Complex
Sindh 233 all out, 42.2 overs (Danish Aziz 53, Saim Ayub 35, Sharjeel Khan 35, Mohammad Suleman 22; Sajid Khan 3-38, Ihsanullah 3-39, Khalid Usman 3-46)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 234-6, 36.1 overs (Israrullah 61, Waqar Ahmed 59, Iftikhar Ahmed 43, Khushdil Shah 27; Anwar Ali 2-25)
Player of the match – Sajid Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa)
Balochistan beat Southern Punjab by six wickets at the NBP Sports Complex
Southern Punjab 219 all out, 45.5 overs (Arafat Minhas 82, Usman Salahuddin 80; Yasir Shah 3-41, Kashif Bhatti 3-48, Mohammad Junaid 2-35)
Balochistan 223-4, 45.4 overs (Imran Butt 72, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 37, Bismillah Khan 33 not out, Haseebullah 33; Faisal Akram 3-47)
Player of the match – Kashif Bhatti (Balochistan)
