MULTAN: Clinical Abbottabad defeated Rawalpindi by seven wickets in the fifth match of the National T20 Cup at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
After being invited to bat, Rawalpindi team bundled out for a modest total of 104 in 18.3 overs.
All rounder Mubasir Khan was the top scorer with 24 off 20 deliveries, laced with three fours and one six.
At the beginning of the innings, Rawalpindi’s top order collapsed due to a clinical bowling performance by the Abbottabad bowlers, who dismantled their batting lineup.
They were restricted to 14-3 inside the power play. Fayyaz Khan and Arshad Iqbal took wickets in the opening overs.
A crucial partnership between Mubasir and wicketkeeper Taimur Khan helped Rawalpindi recover from a difficult position, but their dismissals soon led to the batting line crumbling. Taimur was dismissed after scoring 23 runs off 15 balls.
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For Abbottabad, Arshad Iqbal and Shahab Khan were the stand out bowlers, picking up three wickets each.
Abbottabad chased down the meagre total for the loss of just three wickets in 13.1 overs, courtesy of Kamran Ghulam’s unbeaten knock.
Ghulam top scored with 37 off 27 balls, featuring three fours and one six.
Abbottabad openers Shahzaib Khan (19) and Sajjad Ali Hashmi (16) both contributed significantly, while middle-order batter Mohammad Arif (18) also made important contributions.
For Rawalpindi, Kashif Ali, Mohammad Faizan and Saad Masood could pick up a wicket apiece.
Arshad Iqbal was declared man-of-the-match for his outstanding bowling performance.
The seven-wicket victory placed Abbottabad at the top of Group C standings with two points in National T20 Cup, while Rawalpindi fell to the bottom.
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