RAWALPINDI: Sindh’s wicket-keeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed led the way with a gritty knock of 42 runs before the bowlers displayed combined effort to hand their side an opening victory against Southern Punjab (SP) in the recently-commenced National T20 Cup 2022/23.
In the first match of the National T20 Cup, Sindh outclassed Southern Punjab by a hefty margin of 42 runs at the back of the astonishing valiant knock from the former captain Sarfaraz.
Batting first, Sindh were off to a decent start as the openers Sharjeel Khan and Saim Ayub provided a solid 38-run partnership for the first wicket.
The duo appeared solid and were scoring at a quick pace before Ali Majid castled the left-hander in the fifth over. Sharjeel scored 24 off 19 deliveries, laced with five boundaries.
The side then lost another wicket in a span of six deliveries as newly-arrived right-handed batter Omair Yousuf fell cheaply for five.
Sindh captain Saud Shakeel then attempted to anchor the inning with Saim but remained unable and could only add 29 runs for the third wicket before Saim perished after scoring a quick 30 off 20 deliveries, laced with five boundaries.
Saud’s stay at the crease also remained brief as he walked back to the pavilion in the 12th over after scoring a run-a-ball 18.
Following his dismissal, the side then began to lose wickets at an alarming rate while the wicket-keeper held his ground firm and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly till the final over.
Sarfaraz top-scored for the side with 42 off 32 deliveries, laced with six boundaries, while the tailenders failed to contribute significantly as Sindh finished at 147 in 19.4 overs.
Sameen Gul and Mohammad Ilyas bagged three wickets each for SP, while Faisal Akram claimed two. Mohammad Imran and Ali Majid, on the other hand, made one scalp each.
Set to chase 148, the SP batting line-up failed completely and could only manage to amass 105 before being bowled out in the 17th over.
Right-handed batter Sharoon Siraj remained the top-scorer for the side with a valiant 36 off 27 deliveries, followed by Ilyas, who could score 19 in the run chase.
Sohail Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Sindh as he bagged three wickets for 15, while Danish Azid and Zahid Mahmood claimed two wickets each. Saad Khan, Anwar Ali, and Mir Hamza, on the other hand, made one scalp each.
For his gritty knock and two catches behind the stumps, Sarfaraz was adjudged the player of the opening match of the National T20 Cup 2022-23.
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