Saad Masood takes five wickets as Sharks thrash Warriors to finish on top of PJL points table

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Lahore, 16 October 2022: Sir Vivian Richards mentored Gwadar Sharks sealed their position at the top of the Pakistan Junior League points table with a crushing 77-run win over Mardan Warriors in the 15^th and last group stage game of the tournament at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday night. Sharks will now play the Qualifier 1 against Bahawalpur Royals on Tuesday evening at the same venue. Warriors will take on Rawalpindi Raiders in the Eliminator on Wednesday.

Leg-spinner Saad Masood (player of the match) produced a mesmerizing spell of 2.3 overs, six runs and five wickets as the Warriors were rolled over for 100 in 16. 3 overs. Warriors got off to a poor start in their 178-run chase. Openers Shahzaib Khan (0) and George Thomas (2) were dismissed with-in the first 14 balls of the innings. Pacer Mohammad Ismail took both wickets.

Warriors then took a long time to consolidate as the pair of Burhan Niaz and Haseeb Khan struggled to get the scoreboard moving. Burhan, cut loose in the 10^th and 11^th over of the innings. The Belgian international muscled four sixes in a space of six balls to ignite his side’s hopes of a victory. The right-hander though failed to continue the blitz as he was dismissed lbw by Aftab Ahmed for 47 off 42 balls (two fours, four sixes).

Aftab then removed Haseeb in the same over – 12^th of the innings, as the Sharks gained complete control. 

The Warriors middle and lower-order capitulated as the asking rate continued to mount. Leg-spinner Saad Masood produced a sensational spell to dismiss captain Abbas Ali, Daud Nazar, Mohammad Irfan and Archie Lenham and Abidullah in quick succession to register the first ever five-fer in PJL history.   

Sharks skipper Shamyl Hussain provided his side a flying start courtesy an 83-run opening wicket stand (8.3 overs) with Luc Martin Benkenstein. The two played some dazzling shots to put the pressure on the Warriors bowling attack that looked off colour in the initial stages of the crucial encounter. Shamyl was the first one to go, the left-hander was caught at long-on attempting a big shot off leg-spinner Lenham.

Shamyl hit four fours and a six in his 32 off 23 balls. Danial Ibrahim was dislodged first ball by Lenham, the right-hander was caught plumb in from of the stumps. Wicketkeeper Mohammad Zulkifal added 30 for the third-wicket with Benkenstein before a mix-up caused his run out, Sharks were 113 for three (11 overs) at this stage.

Benkenstein produced some spellbinding shots in his superb 74-run knock. The English batting prodigy looked set to post three figures before his unfortunate run out in the 16^th over. Benkenstein faced 46 balls, hit 10 fours and two sixes in his classy innings.

Arafat Minhas chipped in with a useful 30 off 26 (four fours, one six) as the Sharks finished with a hugely competitive 177 for nine total. Left-arm-spinner Irfan was the pick of the Warriors bowlers, he took three wickets for 29 runs in his four overs.

Scores in brief

Match 15 Gwadar Sharks beat Mardan Warriors by 77 runs

Gwadar Sharks 177-9, 20 overs (Luc Martin Benkenstein 74, Shamyl Hussain 32, Arafat Minhas 30; Mohammad Irfan 3-29, Archie Lenham 2-42)

Mardan Warriors 100-9, 16.3 overs (Burhan Niaz 47, Haseeb Khan 20; Saad Masood 5-6, Mohammad Ismail 2-5, Aftab Ahmed 2-25)

Player of the match: Luc Martin Benkenstein (Gwadar Sharks)

Tuesday’s fixture:  Qualifier 1 – Gwadar Sharks vs Bahawalpur Royals

Points Table of Pakistan Junior League 2022