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DARWIN: Abdul Samad produced a blistering unbeaten century to guide Pakistan Shaheens to a commanding victory over Melbourne Renegades Academy in the Top End T20 Series at the TIO Stadium on Monday.
Set a target of 179, the Renegades were bundled out for 105 in the final over.
Apart from opener Josh Brown, who made 36 off 30 balls, none of the top-order batters managed to reach double figures.
The side crumbled to 66-8 inside 13 overs before tailenders Xavier Crone (11), Callum Stow (15), and Michael Archer (14*) showed some resistance to take the total past 100.
For the Shaheens, Maaz Sadaqat led the attack with three wickets while Faisal Akram picked up two.
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Pakistan Shaheens recovered from a shaky start to post 178-5 in their 20 overs, courtesy of Samad’s heroics.
The innings began in disastrous fashion as openers Yasir Khan and Khawaja Nafay departed without scoring, leaving the side struggling at 2-2 inside two overs.
Mohammad Faiq (21 off 18) and Abdul Samad added 32 runs to steady the innings, but wickets continued to fall, with the Shaheens slipping to 55-4 by the halfway stage.
From there, Samad took charge and reached his half-century with calculated strokeplay before cutting loose in the latter stages.
The middle-order batter added 109 runs for the fifth wicket with skipper Irfan Khan (23), a stand that turned the innings around.
Samad remained unbeaten on a scintillating 110 off 63 deliveries, laced with six fours and six sixes.
Mohammad Wasim Jr. chipped in with two not out as the Shaheens closed on 178-5. For the Renegades, five different bowlers shared a wicket each.
This result marked the Renegades Academy’s first defeat in the Top End T20 Series, while Pakistan Shaheens secured their second win in three matches.
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