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Nisar Ahmad's five-wicket haul takes Lahore Blues to their first win in Super Eight stage

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  • Scorecard available here
  • Match photographs available here

Karachi, 4 December 2023: Lahore Blues registered their first win in the Super Eight stage of AH Group Presents Jazz Super 4G National T20 Cup 2023-24 after defeating Rawalpindi by 64 runs at National Bank Stadium. Batting first, Lahore Blues posted 166-3 in 20 overs. Nisar Ahmad then took a five-fer including a hat-trick to help bowl out Rawalpindi for just 102 in 17.4 overs.

After being put in to bat first, Lahore Blues openers Umar Siddiq (37, 23b, 7x4s) and Imran Butt (39, 29b, 6x4s, 1x6) gave their team a solid start by stitching a 74-run stand.

The side struggled in the middle, losing three wickets in quick succession. Zaman Khan ran Umar out while left-arm spinner Mehran Mumtaz struck twice, removing Imran and Rizwan Hussain.

Skipper Hussain Talat (42 not out, 32b, 3x4s, 1x6) and Qasim Akram (40 not out, 31b, 3x4s, 1x6) brought back momentum to the innings with an 85-run unbeaten partnership, which surged the total to 166.

Rawalpindi got off to a shaky start as the side lost three wickets inside the powerplay. Haider Ali (23, 14b, 5x4s) attempted to counterattack the Lahore Blues’ bowling attack, but fell soon after in the seventh over as he was trapped LBW by Kashif Bhatti.

Mubasir Khan (24, 26b, 1x4, 1x6) was the top-scorer for Rawalpindi with the side dismissed for 102 in 17.4 overs.

Nisar Ahmad wrapped up the Rawalpindi innings with some exceptional death overs bowling, picking up a hat-trick and registering his first five-wicket haul in T20 cricket. Nisar’s figures read five wickets for just five runs as he was named player of the match.

Leg-spinner Usman Qadir grabbed two scalps while Umaid Asif and Kashif Bhatti picked up a wicket apiece.

Scores in brief:

Lahore Blues beat Rawalpindi by 64 runs

Lahore Blues 166-3, 20 overs (Hussain Talat 42 not out, Qasim Akram 40 not out, Imran Butt 39, Umar Siddiq 37; Mehran Mumtaz 2-22)

Rawalpindi 102 all out, 17.4 overs (Mubasir Khan 24, Haider Ali 23; Nisar Ahmad 5-5, Usman Qadir 2-19, Kashif Bhatti 1-14, Umaid Asif 1-19)

Player of the match – Nisar Ahmad (Lahore Blues)