- Points table at the end of the group stage can accessed by clicking here
Faisalabad, 21 March 2025: The 32-match group stage of the Bank Alfalah Presents Inverex Solar Energy National T20 Cup 2024-25 came to an end with Lahore Whites, Peshawar Region, Karachi Region Whites and Lahore Region Blues confirming their Quarter-final berths.
Peshawar’s Sahibzada Farhan stamped his authority with a record 162 not out innings against Quetta at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday night.
Group A – Multan
Lahore Region Whites v Karachi Region Blues
At the Multan Cricket Stadium, Lahore Whites finished top of Group A as they defeated Karachi Blues by eight runs while defending 146, courtesy player of the match Ubaid Shah’s three-wicket burst.
After being asked to bat, Lahore Whites managed to score 146-9 in their 20 overs. Mohammad Mohsin scored a 38-ball 47 inclusive of four boundaries and one six. Karachi Blues’ Mohammad Hamza returned figures of 3-35 in his four overs.
In reply, Ubaid Shah (4-0-27-3) led Lahore Whites’ charge as Karachi Blues were restricted to 138-9 in 20 overs. Mohammad Salman pitched in with two wickets. In Group A Lahore Whites, Peshawar and Karachi Blues finished with six points each. Blues missed out on qualification to next stage due to lesser net run-rate than the other two teams.
Quetta Region v Peshawar Region
Lahore Whites’ win earlier in the day meant Peshawar needed to win their game by a handsome margin to secure their quarter final berth. Sahibzada Farhan broke a seven-year record with his unbeaten 162 off 72 balls, to ensure that his side went through.
After batting first, Peshawar were lifted to 239 in their 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan, following his impressive form with two half-centuries and a century, surpassed Kamran Akmal's unbeaten 150 against Islamabad by scoring an outstanding 162 not out, the highest individual score in T20s in Pakistan, which included 14 fours and 11 sixes.
In return, Quetta kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bundled out for 113 in 19.3 overs. Abdul Wahid Bangalzai scored a 47-ball 46 while Usman Tariq returned figures of 4-0-17-4. Nizar Ali (4-0-22-3) and Mohammad Imran Jnr (3.3-0-11-2) shared five wickets between them.
Group B – Faisalabad
Karachi Region Whites v Bahawalpur Region
At the Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad, Shan Masood’s half-century ensured Karachi Whites finish top of their group and kept the four-match unbeaten streak intact.
After being put to bat first, Karachi Whites put 182-5 on the board in allotted 20 overs, courtesy a 91-run second-wicket partnership between Shan Masood (51, 30b, 4x4s, 3x6s) and Haroon Arshad (44, 36b, 7x4s).
Wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig (36 not out, 21b, 6x4s) and Mohamad Taha (30 not out, 21b, 3x4s) stitched a valuable unbeaten 63-run stand for the sixth wicket. Bahawalpur’s Mohammad Faizan bagged 3-13 in his four overs.
In reply, Bahawalpur fell 17 runs shy as they managed to score 165-5 in their 20 overs. Mohammad Faizan Zafar scored a 42-ball 56 including four boundaries and three sixes, but in vain. Mir Hamza collected two wickets.
Lahore Region Blues v Islamabad Region
Karachi Whites’ win earlier in the day meant that the second Group B fixture between Lahore Blues and Islamabad virtually became a knockout game, as the winner would go through to the quarter finals.
While chasing 119, Imran Butt’s unbeaten 53-ball 63 including nine fours, guaranteed Lahore Blues a quarter-finals berth.
Batting first, Islamabad were restricted to 118-9 in 20 overs. Captain Rohail Nazir top-scored with 39 off 32 including three fours one six. Hussain Talat starred with the ball as he picked up 4-14 in three overs.
The quarter-finals will be played on 23 and 24 March at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad with the first match of each day scheduled to begin at 7pm PKT.
Scores in brief:
Match 29 – Lahore Region Whites beat Karachi Region Blues by eight runs at Multan Cricket Stadium
Lahore Whites 146-9, 20 overs (Mohammad Mohsin 47, Mohammad Saleem 29, Mohammad Rameez Jnr 27 not out; Mohammad Hamza 3-35, Aarish Ali Khan 2-29)
Karachi Blues 138-9, 20 overs (Kashif Ali 32, Abdullah Fazal 27, Rameez Aziz 24, Saifullah Bangash 20; Ubaid Shah 3-27, Mohammad Salman 2-25)
Player of the match: Ubaid Shah (Lahore Region Whites)
Match 30 – Karachi Region Whites beat Bahawalpur Region by 17 runs at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad
Karachi Whites 182-5, 20 overs (Shan Masood 51, Haroon Arshad 44, Saad Baig 36 not out, Mohammad Taha 30 not out; Mohammad Faizan 3-13)
Bahawalpur 165-5, 20 overs (Mohammad Faizan Zafar 56, Mohammad Shahid 37 not out, Mohammad Ammar 36; Mir Hamza 2-31)
Player of the match: Shan Masood (Karachi Region Whites)
Match 31 – Peshawar Region beat Quetta Region by 126 runs at Multan Cricket Stadium
Peshawar 239-2, 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 162 not out, Maaz Sadaqat 54 retired hurt)
Quetta 113 all out, 19.3 overs (Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 46; Usman Tariq 4-17, Nizar Ali 3-22, Mohammad Imran Jnr 2-11)
Player of the match: Sahibzada Farhan (Peshawar Region)
Match 32 – Lahore Region Blues beat Islamabad Region by seven wickets at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad
Islamabad Region 118-9, 20 overs (Rohail Nazir 39, Umair Riaz 26; Hussain Talat 4-14, Nisar Ahmed 2-20)
Lahore Region Blues 119-3, 17.1 overs (Imran Butt 63 not)
Player of the match – Hussain Talat (Lahore Region Blues)
Quarter Finals schedule:
1st Quarter-Final - 23 March 2025: Lahore Region Whites v Abbottabad Region at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad; 7pm
2nd Quarter-Final - 23 March 2025: Karachi Region Whites v Multan Region at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; 11pm
3rd Quarter-Final - 24 March 2025: Faisalabad Region v Peshawar Region at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad; 7pm
4th Quarter-Final - 24 March 2025: Sialkot Region v Lahore Region Blues at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; 11pm
