KARACHI: Sahibzada Farhan’s quick 74-run knock guided Peshawar to a six-wicket victory over FATA on the last day of the Super Eight stage of the National T20 Cup 2023-24 at National Bank Stadium.
This was Peshawar’s tenth consecutive victory in the National T20 Cup after facing a defeat in their first game of the tournament.
Earlier, Peshawar’s decision to field first looked to backfire as FATA plundered 180 runs losing only three wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Opening batter Samiullah Jnr (10, 11b, 1×4) was removed early on by Mohammad Imran but then the other opener Rehan Afridi launched a counterattack.
31-year-old Rehan smashed an unbeaten 90 from 56 balls consisting of eight boundaries and four sixes.
Salman Khan Jnr (21 not out, 13b, 1×4, 1×6) also contributed at the end of the innings to take FATA to 180-3.
Peshawar’s chase was highlighted by Sahibzada Farhan’s (74, 40b, 7x4s, 5x6s) belligerent batting right from the start.
After Sahibzada was dismissed in the 13th over, Iftikhar Ahmed (45, 29b, 2x4s, 3x6s) took charge of the innings and remained unbeaten to seal the triumph in the last over.
Only Khushdil Shah managed two wickets while the other bowlers remained wicketless.
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Earlier in the day, in another National T20 Cup match Lahore Whites successfully defended their total of 189-2 as Sialkot were bundled out for 159 in 18.2 overs at UBL Sports Complex.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Lahore Whites batters came out all guns blazing.
Opening batter Mohammad Faiq (110 not out, 60b, 16x4s, 2x6s), playing just the second T20 game of his career, smashed his maiden century.
Faiq was supported by Ahmed Shehzad (27, 21b, 3x4s, 1×6) earlier as the pair shared an opening partnership of 75 runs.
Imran Dogar (35, 24b, 4x4s, 1x6s) also chipped in with a vital contribution.
Sialkot openers, Ashir Mehmood (27, 14b, 3x4s, 1×6) and Mohammad Huraira (17, 18b, 3x4s), gave a decent start to their team but then Lahore Whites struck thrice to leave the opposition 52-3.
Shoaib Malik (64, 33b, 2x4s, 6x6s) was the only Sialkot batter who challenged the Lahore Whites bowlers.
Mohammad Irfan took three wickets while all other Lahore Whites bowlers bagged one scalp each.
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Meanwhile, Abbottabad eked out a tight win against Lahore Blues they chased the target of 172 with three wickets in the bag and one ball to spare at NBP Sports Complex.
Lahore Blues were asked to bat first by Abbottabad and they did well to post a competitive total on board.
Imran Butt (5, 7b, 1×4) and Umar Siddiq (17, 11b, 3x4s) departed early.
Qasim Akram (40, 33b, 3x4s) and Rizwan Hussain (36, 27b, 4x4s, 1×6) then put on a partnership of 66 runs to steer Lahore Blues out of trouble.
Junaid Ali chipped in with an unbeaten 44 off 24 balls comprising of five boundaries and one six.
Debutant Aqib Khan picked up two wickets while Kamran Ghulam bagged the wicket of set batter Rizwan Hussain.
Abbottabad’s chase was anchored by opening batter Sajjad Ali Jnr (60, 41b, 6x4s, 2x6s) and the experienced Kamran (69, 45b, 5x4s, 4x6s), who stitched a second-wicket partnership of 83 runs.
Following Kamran’s dismissal in the 18th over, Shahab Khan’s timely cameo of 26 off 10 balls laced with three sixes took the game away from Lahore Blues.
Nisar Ahmed took two wickets for Lahore Blues while all other bowlers except Asfand Mehran took one scalp each.
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