FAISALABAD: Dominant Lahore Region Blues clinched the National T20 Cup title after defeating Peshawar Region by nine wickets here at Iqbal Stadium on Sunday.
Lahore Blues successfully chased down a modest target of 111 runs in 16 overs for the loss of one wicket.
Veteran domestic batter Umer Siddiq and Junaid Ali formed a crucial partnership, adding 66 runs for the second wicket, which helped their team secure an easy victory.
Both batsmen remained unbeaten throughout the chase. Umer scored an impressive 64 runs off 46 deliveries, featuring two sixes and six fours, while Junaid Ali contributed with a solid knock of 30 runs off 30 balls.
For Peshawar, Usman Tariq was the only bright spot, taking one wicket in an otherwise depleted bowling attack.
Earlier, a clinical bowling effort led by Salman Mirza’s four wickets restricted Peshawar to a modest total of 110 in their 20 overs.
Peshawar’s batting line faltered in the highly anticipated final against a well-disciplined bowling attack of Lahore Region.
Lahore bowlers left Peshwar reeling, reducing them to 38-4 inside the first six overs.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
The National T20 Cup leading run-scorer, Sahib Zada Farhan, was unable to rise to the occasion, as he was dismissed for 17 runs after facing 16 deliveries, which included one four and one six.
After an early hiccup, Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Zulkifal added 38 runs for the fifth wicket, which helped to lift their team out of trouble.
The key moment occurred in the 13th over with Zulkifal’s dismissal, who scored 32 off 29 deliveries, laced with five boundaries including a six.
His departure triggered a crucial collapse in the middle order, resulting in Peshawar losing three additional wickets in quick succession.
However, Iftikhar held his position until the second-to-last over, where he was ultimately dismissed by Nisar Ahmed.
He finished as the leading scorer for his team with a 34 runs off 33 balls, including two boundaries.
READ: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan join Pakistan squad in Napier ahead of ODI series