Basit, bowlers star as Royals thrash Hunters in PJL

LAHORE: Bahawalpur Royals opening batter Basit Ali played a match-defining knock of 54 before bowlers displayed a combined effort to rattle Hyderabad Hunters’ batting line-up for a paltry 113 and aided in their team’s eight-wicket victory in the second match of the ongoing Pakistan Junior League (PJL).

In the second fixture of the ongoing PJL, the Royals sealed a dominating victory over the Hunters by eight wickets with 44 balls to spare.

Batting first on the invitation of the Royals captain Obaid Shahid, the Hunters’ batting line-up failed completely and could only accumulate 113 before bundling out in the 19th over.

The Hunters had a decent start to their innings as they were 61/1 in the seventh over before Nathan Edward broke the important second-wicket partnership that saw Saad Baig and Moiz Rana add 47 runs.

Saad, who fell victim to Edward in the seventh over, remained the top-scorer for his side as he scored 34 off 24 deliveries with the help of five boundaries and a six.

Following his dismissal, the side then ran into a frustrating collapse and could not recover despite Muneeb Wasif’s gritty knock of 26 in the middle.

Sajjad Ali and Arham Nawab claimed three wickets each, while Nangeyalia Kharote, Johan Mahne, and Edward made one scalp each.

Set to chase a paltry 114, Royals comfortably steered to the victory in the 13th over for the loss of two wickets, thanks to a brilliant half-century from Basit.

The right-handed batter smashed 54 off just 30 balls, laced with 11 boundaries.

Royals captain Obaid also chipped in the run chase as he played a sensible knock of 32* off 26 balls. Wicketkeeper batter Shahwaiz Irfan scored 18 not out.

For Hunters, only Mohammad Zubair Jr and Haseeb-ur-Rehman managed to make one scalp apiece.

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