Multan, 20 March 2025: Sialkot Region and Multan Region from Group D cemented their Quarter final positions as they won their final group games of the Bank Alfalah Presents Inverex Solar Energy National T20 Cup 2024-25 on Thursday night here at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
From Group C, Abbottabad and Faisalabad have qualified for the Quarters, while two games each remain in the Groups A and B.
Group A – Multan
Peshawar Region v Larkana Region
At the Multan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar Region defeated Larkana Region by seven wickets as they scaled the 132-run target in 13.1 overs. Player of the match Sahibzada Farhan struck a 39-ball 76 with the help of eight fours and four sixes, while also partnering with Waqar Ahmed ((40, 32b, 1x4, 3x6s) for a 124-run opening stand.
Earlier, Peshawar’s pace trio of Mohammad Amir Khan (3-23), Niaz Khan (3-30) and Ihsanullah (1-36) struck regular blows to restrict Larkana to 131-9 in the allotted 20 overs
Lahore Region Whites v Quetta Region
In the second Group A fixture of the day, Lahore Region Whites downed Quetta Region by 10 wickets.
After batting first, Quetta Region were bundled out for a meagre 86. Ahmed Daniyal and Kamran Afzal picked up two wickets apiece.
In return, Lahore Region Whites’ opening batters chased down the target in 8.5 overs. Mohammad Faiq, following up on a hundred in his previous match, scored an unbeaten 32-ball 72 comprising of eight fours and four sixes.
Group D – Faisalabad
Multan Region v FATA Region
Multan beat FATA by 74 runs in a must-win game as the latter were bundled out for a mere 93 in 17.2 with Sharoon Siraj, Arafat Minhas and Ali Majid picking up two wickets each.
Earlier, Multan’s opening batter Zain Abbas struck a half-century (51, 41b, 5x4s, 1x6) keeping their innings intact. Valuable contributions from player of the match Arafat Minhas (37, 18b, 3x4s, 2x6s) and Muhammad Shahzad (23, 18b, 1x4, 1x6) and Waseem Akram Jnr (18 not out, 12b, 1x4, 1x6) took them to 167-7 in 20 overs.
Sialkot Region v AJK Region
Sialkot chased AJK’s 138-run target in 14.3 overs courtesy Mirza Tahir Baig’s blazing half-century (76 not out, 44b, 7x4s, 4x6s), while he also partnered with Mohammad Huraira (30, 27b, 1x4, 2x6s) for an 85-run opening stand. Mohsin Riaz remained unbeaten for 25 off 12 balls hitting three fours and one six.
Earlier, player of the match Usama Mir and Hasan Ali’s three blows each kept AJK’s batting progress in check after a 65-run opening partnership between Hasnain Nadeem (43, 40b, 4x4s, 1x6) and Hasan Raza (39, 42B, 3X4S, 1X6).
AJK were propelled to 137-6 in 20 as Aqib Liaqat struck three fours and one six in his nine-ball stay on the crease, which yielded him 24 runs.
Scores in brief:
Match 25 – Peshawar Region beat Larkana Region by seven wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium
Larkana Region 131-9, 20 overs (Mohsin Raza 29; Mohammad Amir Khan 3-23, Niaz Khan 3-30)
Peshawar Region 132-3, 13.1 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 76, Waqar Ahmed 40; Shahnawaz Dahani 2-39)
Player of the match – Sahibzada Farhan (Peshawar Region)
Match 26 – Multan Region beat FATA Region by 74 runs at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad
Multan 167-7, 20 overs (Zain Abbas 51, Arafat Minhas 37, Muhammad Shahzad 23; Asif Ali 2-21, Sameen Gul 2-31)
FATA 93 all out, 17.2 overs (Salman Khan Jnr 22; Sharoon Siraj 2-7, Ali Majid 2-16, Arafat Minhas 2-22)
Player of the match – Arafat Minhas
Match 27 – Sialkot Region beat Azad Jammu and Kashmir Region by eight wickets at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad
AJK 137-6, 20 overs (Hasnain Nadeem 43, Hasan Raza 39, Aqib Liaqar 24 not out; Usama Mir 3-13, Hasan Ali 3-39)
Sialkot 143-2, 14.3 overs (Mirza Tahir Baig 76 not out, Mohammad Huraira 30, Mohsin Riaz 25 not out)
Match 28 – Lahore Region Whites beat Quetta Region by 10 wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium
Quetta Region 86-8, 20 overs (Shamraiz Khan 25; Ahmed Daniyal 2-17, Kamran Afzal 2-21)
Lahore Region Whites 88-0, 8.5 overs (Mohammad Faiq 72 not out)
Player of the match – Mohammad Faiq (Lahore Region Whites)
Friday’s fixtures:
Lahore Region Whites v Karachi Region Blues at Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan; 4.30pm
Karachi Region Whites v Bahawalpur Region at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; 7pm
Quetta Region v Peshawar Region at Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan; 9pm
Lahore Region Blues v Islamabad Region at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; 11pm
