- Balochistan U16 Blues beat Sindh U16 Blues by 15 runs in a thriller at the MCC Ground, Multan
Multan, 15 January 2022: The opening round of the National U16 One-Day Tournament (45 overs) Pool-B fixtures was played today with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa U16 Blues, Central Punjab U16 Blues and Balochistan U16 Blues emerging victorious.
At the Multan Cricket Stadium, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa U16 Blues batted first and scored 213 for six in a match reduced to 36 overs. Usman Khan top-scored with 69 runs. Opener Shahzeb Khan made a 48-run contribution. Muhammad Nabeel took two wickets.
In reply, Northern U16 Blues were bowled out for 144 in 30.4 overs. Syed Ali Mehdi with 67 was the only batter to shine for the losing side. Zubair Ahmed and Ahmed Hassan took three wickets each.
Over at the Sports Ground, Southern Punjab U16 Blues batted first and scored 213 for nine in their 45 overs. Sameer Akhtar was the best performer with the bat with a 53-run contribution while Haseeb Javed scored 38. Ali Raza took three for 29 while Ali Hamza captured two wickets for 50 runs.
Central Punjab U16 Blues were well served by Faraz Ahmed and Obaid Shahid who added 96 runs for the second-wicket to set-up a comfortable eight-wicket victory. Faraz scored 78 while Obaid remained unbeaten on 61.
Opener Saad Baig’s 75 went in vain as Sindh U16 Blues were beaten by Balochistan U16 Blues by 15 runs at the MCC Ground.
Saad was the only batter to front-up against the Balochistan bowlers as Sindh were bowled out for 181 in their 197-run chase. Spinners Anwar Shah and Inamullah took three wickets each.
Earlier, Balochistan U16 Blues had posted 196 all out in 42 overs. Inamullah who opened the innings top-scored with 41 while his partner Sumair Ahmed scored 39. Hameed Kareem and Abdul Moeez took two wickets each.
Scores in brief:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa U16 Blues beat Northern U16 Blues by 69 runs
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa U16 Blues 213 for 6, 36 overs (Usman Khan 69, Shahzeb Khan 48; Muhammad Nabeel 2-42)
Northern U16 Blues 144 all out, 30.4 overs (Syed Ali Mehdi 67; Zubair Ahmed 3-32, Ahmed Hassan 3-39)
Central Punjab U16 Blues beat Southern Punjab U16 Blues by eight wickets
Southern Punjab U16 Blues 213 for 9, 45 overs (Sameer Akhtar 53, Haseeb Javed 38; Ali Raza 3-29, Ali Hamza 2-50)
Central Punjab U16 Blues 217 for 2, 38.4 overs (Faraz Ahmed 78, Obaid Shahid 61 not out.; Muhammad Jansher 1-43)
Balochistan U16 Blues beat Sindh U16 Blues by 15 runs
Balochistan U16 Blues 196 all out, 42 overs (Inamullah 41, Sumair Ahmed 39; Hameed Kareem 2-37, Abdul Moeez 2-47)
Sindh U16 Blues 181 all out, 40.4 overs (Saad Baig 75; Anwar Shah 3-23, Inamullah 3-30)
