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DARWIN: Pakistan Shaheens captain Muhammad Irfan Khan has set his sights on the Top End T20 Series Trophy after leading his side to a thrilling one-run victory against Nepal here on Friday.
Pakistan Shaheens edge past Nepal by one run as Faisal Akram bowled a terrific final over under pressure with only eight runs to defend.
The drama unfolded in the last over with Nepal scoring four runs in the first two deliveries.
However, under pressure, well-set batter, Dipendra Singh Airee, attempted an unconventional reverse shot, which went straight to the fielder, resulting in his run out and emphatic win for Pakistan Shaheens.
For Pakistan Shaheens, Irfan Khan bagged the Player of the Match award for his blistering knock. The right-handed batter made 42* from 26 balls, striking three fours and a six.
Speaking in the post-match presentation, Irfan spoke about the condition in Darwin and lauded bowlers for defending a low total.
“The conditions were not easy, and we lost early wickets. We tried to play out the full 20 overs, and that effort paid off,” he said.
“Our bowlers bowled really well, which is why we won the match,” he remarked.
One question regarding the conditions, the skipper mentioned his previous outings in Australia.
“On previous tours, the conditions were different, and this year has brought a different challenge too. We always try to adapt ourselves according to the conditions,” he said.
“In Darwin, the conditions are dry; they are not the typical Australian conditions,” he further remarked.
With this, Pakistan Shaheens are on the verge of reaching the semi-finals, and Irfan Khan has vowed to win the Top End T20 series Trophy.
“We came here with the determination to take the trophy, and we’ll keep working toward that goal, said Irfan Khan.
“The crowd is very energetic, and I really enjoy it—it gives us a big boost while we are playing,” he concluded by thanking the energetic crowd.
READ: Faisal Akram holds nerves as Pakistan Shaheens clinch last-ball thriller against Nepal
