Left-handed batter Saim Ayub played a marathon 179-run knock and powered Karachi Whites to thump Rawalpindi by 72 runs in the fifth round of the Pakistan Cup 2023.
The fifth round of Pakistan Cup 2023-24, played at four venues across Rawalpindi, AJK and Abbottabad had Peshawar, Karachi Whites, Multan and FATA emerge on top in their respective games.
The only game of the round not affected by bad weather saw FATA defeat Lahore Whites by six wickets in a low-scoring match. The other three matches were impacted by weather and bad light, and results were produced on the DLS method.
Karachi Whites scored a mammoth total of 364-7 in the allotted 45 overs after they were invited to bat first by Rawalpindi at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium.
Saim Ayub was the star of the show, smashing 179 from 125, including 15 fours and 11 sixes. This is the highest individual score of this edition of the competition so far.
Asad Shafiq produced a half-century (57, 43b, 6x4s, 2x6s) as well. All seven of the Rawalpindi bowlers returned with a wicket each.
In return, Rawalpindi only managed 169-5 in 27 overs before rain interfered. Abdul Faseeh (54, 45b, 9x4s, 1×6) and Umar Amin (44, 27b, 5x4s, 2x6s) were the major contributors with the bat.
Left-arm spinner Noman Ali got three wickets while Asad Shafiq returned with two scalps as well. Karachi Whites were awarded a 72-run victory, as per DLS.
In another fifth-round Pakistan Cup fixture, Peshawar, after being put into bat first, scored 264 all out in 45 overs against Faisalabad at Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Captain Sahibzada Farhan (66, 106b, 9x4s) and Kamran Ghulam (63, 46b, 7x4s, 2x6s) were the top scorers for the side.
Right-arm pacer Arshad Iqbal registered a five-wicket haul. Faheem Ashraf and Ali Shan, who were involved in a collision, went off the field after suspected concussion. Mohammad Huraira was named Faheem’s replacement, while Irfan Khan Niazi replaced Ali Shan.
In return, Faisalabad could only get to 142-7 in 27.3 overs before no further play was possible due to bad light. Asif Ali (30, 27b, 2x4s, 1×6) and Mohammad Saleem (27, 41b) were the only notable batters for the side.
Pacers Mohammad Ilyas, Abbas Afridi and left-arm spinner Azam Khan claimed two wickets each. Peshawar were awarded a 68-run victory, as per DLS.
In the rain-impacted Pakistan Cup fixture, Lahore Blues got to 257-7 in the stipulated 40 overs after Multan won the toss and elected to bowl first at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.
Hussain Talat (70, 56b, 9x4s) and Rizwan Hussain (62, 79b, 9x4s) were the top run-getters for the team. Tahir Hussain was the pick of the bowlers for Multan, accounting for three wickets.
Multan could only bat for 21.2 overs, before weather conditions disallowed further play. They scored 163-4, on the back of Sharjeel Khan’s quick-fire half-century (82, 63b, 8x4s, 5x6s).
Sohaib Maqsood also chipped in with 33 off 35 deliveries, including three fours and a six, as Multan were awarded a 37-run win over Lahore Blues as per DLS. Ali Shafiq, Umaid Asif, Hussain Talat and Usman Qadir took a wicket each.
FATA’s decision to bowl first worked in their favour as they bowled Lahore Whites out for only 128 in 38.1 overs in their Pakistan Cup clash at Mirpur Cricket Stadium.
Ahmed Daniyal was the highest scorer for the side, hitting 32 from 42, including three fours and a six. Fahad Munir added 27 off 44, including three boundaries, to the total. Asif Afridi and Khushdil Shah took three wickets each and Shahid Aziz also had two to his name.
In turn, FATA scored 130-4 in 22.1 overs. Mohammad Farooq (40, 30b, 6x4s), Mohammad Sarwar Afridi (34 not out, 28b, 4x4s, 1×6) and Samiullah Jnr (33, 58b, 3x4s) were the major contributors with the bat.
Mohammad Rameez Jnr grabbed two wickets while Asadullah and Aamer Jamal returned with a wicket each.
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