ISLAMABAD: In the eighth-round match of the ongoing Pakistan Cup, Sindh sealed a thrilling victory in a rain-affected match over the home side, Northern, to secure the top spot in the points table.

In the 23rd match of the ongoing Pakistan Cup, Sindh sealed a thrilling victory in a high-scoring clash against Northern by eight runs.

Batting first, Sindh posted a massive total on the board as they scored 221/5 in the allotted 25 overs, the opening batter Saim Ayub shone with his half-century, while the rest of the batters also chipped in.

The openers Sharjeel Khan and Saim provided a solid start to the side as they put on a magnificent 92-runs partnership for the first wicket. Sharjeel, who scored a double-century in the last match against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) fell early as he went back to the pavilion after scoring 39 off 30 balls.

Saim, on the other hand, kept going and went on to score a brilliant half-century as he top-scored for the side with 57 off just 34 balls with the help of eight boundaries and two sixes.

Danis Aziz’s onslaught down the order further bolstered the side’s score to 221/5 in 25 overs as the left-handed batter scored a quickfire 46 off 27 balls, laced with four boundaries and a six.

For Northern, Mubasir Khan, Shadab Majeed, and Zaman Khan struck out a batter each.

Set to chase a mammoth 222 in 25 overs, the home side fell eight runs short despite the fifties from Imad Wasim and Umar Amin.

The side had a poor start to their run chase as they lost their first wicket for none. Opening batter Nasir Nawaz bagged a golden duck. The side then kept losing wickets at a regular interval and in the end, fell eight runs short as Sindh bowlers did well to produce timely breakthroughs.

Imad scored 53 off 44 balls, while Umar top-scored for the home side with 66 off just 38 deliveries, laced with the help of seven boundaries and three sixes. Their heroics too, could not help the side to secure the victory as the rest of the batters failed to contribute significantly in the run chase.

For Sindh, Muhammad Umar, Shahnawaz Dahani, Asif Mehmood, and Saim bagged two wickets each.

In another match of the Pakistan Cup, Balochistan thumped Central Punjab (CP) by 76 runs, thanks to the centuries from Imran Butt and Asad Shafiq.

Batting first, Balochistan scored a mammoth 371/4 in the allotted 50 overs. Opening batter Imran and the experienced right-handed batter Asad scored brilliant centuries to bolster the total.

Asad remained not-out for his terrific 104 off 73 balls with the help of 16 boundaries, while Imran top-scored for the side as he scored 129 off 93 deliveries, laced with 18 boundaries and two sixes.

The middle-order batter Mohammad Saad also chipped in with his 50 off 44 balls; smashing four boundaries and two sixes.

For Balochistan, Hussain Talat bagged two wickets, while Wahab Riaz and Raza Ali Dar made one scalp each.

In the run chase, CP fell short of 76 runs, as the home side bowled for 295 runs in the 48th over despite the fifties from Ahmed Shehzad and Saad Nasim.

Ahmed top-scored for the home side; scoring 66 up the order. He faced 54 balls and hit 12 boundaries including two sixes, while Saad scored 59 but remained a touch too slow as he conceded 62 balls in the course of his innings.

The rest of the CP batters could not go big with the bat and the side bowled out for 295; handing an easy 76 runs victory to Balochistan.

For Balochistan, Asad and Amad Butt led the way with three wickets each, while Yasir Shah claimed two. Akif Javed, on the other hand, struck out a batter.

In the 24th match of the ongoing domestic tournament, KPK sealed a consolidating 35 runs victory over Southern Punjab (SP).

Batting first KPK put on a commendable 285/7 on the scoreboard in the allotted 50 overs. Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Sarwar Afridi went big with the bat; both scoring half-centuries, while the rest of the batters also made collective efforts to power the side to a reputable total.

Fakhar, who was looking solid, missed on his well-deserved century by a mere five runs as he perished after scoring run-a-ball 95 with the help of seven boundaries and four sixes. Sarwar, on the other hand, played a gritty knock of 72 runs off 85 deliveries; smashing seven boundaries and a six.

For SP, Zia-ul-Haq shone with the ball; taking four wickets, while Ali Majid, Muhammad Imran, and Aamer Yamin struck out a batter each.

In the run chase, SP could only score 250 before getting bowled out in the 45th over. The middle-order batter Salman Ali Agha fought hard with his gritty knock as he top-scored for the side; scoring 56 off 77 balls.

Left-handed explosive batter Khushdil Shah and Azam Khan, on the other hand, scored 40 each but that too could not assist the side securing the victory as the rest of the batters failed to make an impact with the bat.

For KPK, Khalid Usman led the way with three wickets, while Imran Khan Snr and Sameen Gul picked two wickets each. Kamran Ghulam, on the other hand, struck out a batter.

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