SHEIKHUPURA: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Whites’ Shahzaib Khan shone with his all-rounder performance and bolstered his side to beat Central Punjab Blues by five wickets and lift the National Under-19 Cup title, here at Rana Naveed Cricket Academy.

In the final of the National U19 Cup, CP Blues, after opting to bat first, failed to pose a defendable total despite a brilliant century from their opener Azan Awais as they could only manage to score 214/8 in the allotted 50 overs.

Azan led the way for the CP Blues with a 125-ball hundred that included 11 fours. Last year’s Player of the Tournament scored 267 runs in the event, including two half-centuries. Captain Obaid Shahid also chipped in with 31 off 41 balls, smashing a boundary and a six.

Skipper Abbas Ali led the way for KP Whites as he made three scalps for 34 runs in 10 overs, while Javaid Ali also impressed with his two for 46.

Set to chase 215, KP Whites comfortably achieved the target in the 47th over for the loss of five wickets. Shahzaib top-scored for his side as he made a 95-ball 73 with the help of eight boundaries. He also took three catches on the field, which earned him the Player of the Final award.

For CP Blues, Mohammad Zeeshan and Mohammad Maooz claimed two wickets each.

Individual Awards

Player of the final: Shahzaib Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa U19 Whites (73 runs and three catches)

Player of the tournament: Abbas Ali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa U19 Whites (172 runs and 10 wickets)

Best Bowler of the Tournament: Aftab Ibrahim, Sindh U19 Blues (13 wickets)

Best Batter of the Tournament: Ali Ishaq, Sindh U19 Whites (316 runs)

Best wicketkeeper of the tournament: Saad Baig, Sindh U19 Blues (nine dismissals and 299 runs)

It is pertinent to mention here that 12 teams will now feature in the National U19 Championship later this month. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will announce the schedule and squads in due course.

READ: ‘Nothing in my heart from past’ Umar Akmal meets ailing Zulqarnain Haider