Balochistan vs Central Punjab, 8th Match of National T20 Cup:
Balochistan: 164/8
Central Punjab: 137/8 (20/20 overs, target 165)
Balochistan won the match by 27 runs.
Awais Zia and Bismillah Khan secured the win for Balochistan after their explosive display of batting against Central Punjab’s bowling attack. Balochistan scored 164 runs at the cost of 8 wickets after 20 overs, while batting first. Central Punjab could only score 137 runs for 8 wickets despite Ahmed Shehzad’s half-century, losing the match by 27 runs.
Awais Zia and Bismillah Khan push Balochistan forward:
Balochistan opened their innings with Imam-ul-Haq and Awais Zia. Imam-ul-Haq lost his wicket on the first ball of the 2nd over of the match after scoring just 11 runs. Awais Zia and Bismillah Khan put together a partnership of 61 runs.
Another fine knock, another fifty for Bismillah Khan#KPvSIN LIVE: https://t.co/iLc2FuHoWd#NationalT20Cup pic.twitter.com/nLmWlhrOFy
— National T20 Cup 2019 (@TheRealPCB_Live) October 16, 2019
Bismillah Khan played an outstanding innings as he scored another half-century for Balochistan. Bismillah Khan scored 51 runs off 23 balls. He struck 7 fours and smacked 3 sixes out of the ground before he lost his wicket to Usman Qadir in the 7th over. Balochistan’s captain Haris Sohail got dismissed by Nasim Shah after scoring 2 runs, while Imran Farhat got run out for 11 runs. Hussain Talat scored 14 runs off 15 balls, while Amad Butt returned on a duck. Yasir Shah remained not out after contributing 14 runs off 14 balls.
Amidst all that, Awais Zia stood his ground as he scored 56 runs off 43 balls for Balochistan. Awais smacked 4 fours and 2 sixes after he lost his wicket on the second-last ball of the match. Balochistan finished their innings on 164 runs off 8 wickets after 20 overs.
Faheem Ashraf takes 3 for Central Punjab:
Faheem Ashraf took 3 wickets, while 2 of them came from the same over where he dismissed Hussain Talat and Amad Butt back-to-back. Faheem Ashraf conceded 33 runs in his four overs. Bilal Asif, Naseem Shah, and Usman Qadir claimed 1 wicket each for Central Punjab.
Ahmed Shehzad’s half-century for nothing:
Central Punjab required 165 runs from 20 overs. Ahmed Shehzad who scored his fifth T20 hundred in his previous match played outstandingly in this match as well. Ahmed Shehzad provided Central Punjab with a sound start with his half-century. He scored 52 runs off 41 balls for Central Punjab after hitting 5 fours and a six.
50 comes up for @iamAhmadshahzad #CPvBAL LIVE: https://t.co/iLc2FuHoWd#NationalT20Cup pic.twitter.com/FUNSKrqimo
— National T20 Cup 2019 (@TheRealPCB_Live) October 16, 2019
Central Punjab’s captain Babar Azam contributed 30 runs off 20 balls after his 59 runs partnership with Ahmed Shehzad. The Akmal brothers were not able to do much in this match as well after Kamran Akmal made 2, while Umar Akmal lost his wicket on 3 runs.
Central Punjab was 5 down on 97 runs with a long way to go ahead in their chase for 165 runs. Faheem Ashraf could not perform with the bat and Usman Qadir scored only 10 runs before losing his wicket to Umar Gul. Saad Nasim remained not out after scoring 18 runs off 15 balls where Central Punjab finished their innings on 137 for 8 wickets, losing the match by 27 runs to Balochistan.
Amad Butt and Yasir Shah bring down Central Punjab:
Balochistan’s bowlers did an amazing job with the ball. They restricted Central Punjab after they received such a good start from Ahmed Shehzad and Babar Azam. Amad Butt of Balochistan turned out to be the most successful bowler for his team after he took 3 wickets for 23 runs in his 4 overs. Yasir Shah also proved to be very economical for his team after he conceded only 19 runs in his 4 overs, while also claiming 2 wickets against Central Punjab. Umar Gul snatched 2 wickets and Akif Javed dismissed 1.
Balochistan is now on top of the points table with 4 points in the National T20 Cup. Central Punjab is now on the bottom of the points table with 2 points.
