FAISALABAD: Sahibzada Farhan stamped his authority in National T20 Cup 2024-25 with a record-breaking 162* against Quetta to confirm Peshawar Region’s Quarter-final berth at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The 32-match group stage of the National T20 Cup 2024-25 came to an end with Lahore Whites, Peshawar Region, Karachi Region Whites and Lahore Region Blues qualifying for the Quarter-final.
Lahore Whites finished top of Group A as they defeated Karachi Blues at the Multan Cricket Stadium by eight runs while defending 146, courtesy player of the match Ubaid Shah’s three-wicket burst.
After being asked to bat, Lahore Whites managed to score 146-9 in their 20 overs. Mohammad Mohsin scored a 38-ball 47 inclusive of four boundaries and one six. Karachi Blues’ Mohammad Hamza returned figures of 3-35 in his four overs.
In reply, Ubaid Shah (4-0-27-3) led the Lahore Whites’ charge as Karachi Blues were restricted to 138-9 in 20 overs. Mohammad Salman pitched in with two wickets.
In Group A Lahore Whites, Peshawar and Karachi Blues finished with six points each. Blues missed out on qualification to the next stage due to lesser net run-rate than the other two teams.
Lahore Whites’ win earlier in the day meant Peshawar needed to win their game by a handsome margin to secure their quarter-final berth. Sahibzada Farhan broke multiple records with his unbeaten 162 off 72 balls, to ensure that his side went through.
After batting first, Peshawar were lifted to 239 in their 20 overs. Sahibzada Farhan, following his impressive form with two half-centuries and a century, scored an outstanding 162 not out, the highest individual score in T20s in Pakistan, which included 14 fours and 11 sixes.
In return, Quetta kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually bundled out for 113 in 19.3 overs.
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Abdul Wahid Bangalzai scored a 47-ball 46 while Usman Tariq returned figures of 4-0-17-4. Nizar Ali (4-0-22-3) and Mohammad Imran Jnr (3.3-0-11-2) shared five wickets between them.
At the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, Shan Masood’s half-century ensured Karachi Whites finished top of their group and kept the four-match unbeaten streak intact.
After being put to bat first, Karachi Whites put 182-5 on the board in the allotted 20 overs, courtesy of a 91-run second-wicket partnership between Shan Masood (51, 30b, 4x4s, 3x6s) and Haroon Arshad (44, 36b, 7x4s).
Wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig (36 not out, 21b, 6x4s) and Mohamad Taha (30 not out, 21b, 3x4s) stitched a valuable unbeaten 63-run stand for the sixth wicket. Bahawalpur’s Mohammad Faizan bagged 3-13 in his four overs.
In reply, Bahawalpur fell 17 runs shy as they managed to score 165-5 in their 20 overs. Mohammad Faizan Zafar scored a 42-ball 56 including four boundaries and three sixes, but in vain. Mir Hamza collected two wickets.
Karachi Whites’ win earlier in the day meant that the second Group B fixture between Lahore Blues and Islamabad virtually became a knockout game, as the winner would go through to the quarter-finals of the National T20 Cup.
While chasing 119, Imran Butt’s unbeaten 53-ball 63 including nine fours, guaranteed Lahore Blues a quarter-finals berth.
Batting first, Islamabad were restricted to 118-9 in 20 overs. Captain Rohail Nazir top-scored with 39 off 32 including three fours and one six. Hussain Talat starred with the ball as he picked up 4-14 in three overs.
The quarter-finals will be played on 23 and 24 March at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad with the first match of each day scheduled to begin at 7 pm PKT.
READ: Sahibzada Farhan smashes joint third-highest T20 score ever in National T20 Cup