Southern Punjab vs Balochistan, 9th Match, National T20 Cup:
Southern Punjab: 144/7
Balochistan: 145/3 (19.3/20 overs, target 145)
Balochistan won the match by 7 wickets with 3 balls remaining.
Southern Punjab got defeated by Balochistan in the 9th match of the National T20 Cup. Southern Punjab scored 144 runs at the cost of 7 wickets while batting first after 20 overs. Balochistan chased the target at the cost of 3 wickets in 19.3 overs with 3 balls to spare as a result of Imam-ul-Haq’s half-century.
Wahab Riaz and Bilawal Bhatti rescue Southern Punjab:
Balochistan won the toss and decided to let Southern Punjab bat first. Southern Punjab sent their captain Shan Masood and Mohammad Hafeez to bat first. Southern Punjab lost both their openers on duck after Akif Javed dismissed both Shan Masood and Mohammad Hafeez in the first over of the match.
BOWLED HIM!!!https://t.co/J2EQmSnOb5 pic.twitter.com/Mw0hdSblCk
— National T20 Cup 2019 (@TheRealPCB_Live) October 17, 2019
Sohaib Maqsood and Umar Siddiq put together a partnership of 42 runs, where Southern Punjab’s wicketkeeper Umar Siddiq contributed 12 runs off 18 balls. After Akif Javed, Mohammad Asghar also claimed two wickets of Southern Punjab in a single over. Mohammad Asghar took the wicket of Umar Siddiq and after a ball, dismissed Shoaib Malik on a duck.
Southern Punjab was 4 down on 42 runs. Saif Badar contributed 15 off 20 balls, while Aamer Yamin made 27 runs off 20 balls before being bowled by Akif Javed. Southern Punjab was 115/7 with14 balls remaining at that point in the game.
Wahab Riaz and Bilawal Bhatti batted fiercely to push their team towards a total of 144 runs. Wahab Riaz and Bilawal Bhatti scored a partnership of 29 runs on the last 14 balls of the game. Wahab Riaz scored 31 runs off 17 balls for 3 fours and a six. Bilawal Bhatti faced 5 balls and smacked 2 of them for boundaries to score 12 runs. Bilawal Bhatti struck a four and a six to push Southern Punjab’s total to 144 after 20 overs.
Akif Javed leads Balochistan’s bowling attack:
Akif Javed provided Balochistan with a dream start after he dismissed both the openers of Southern Punjab for a duck in the first over of the match. Akif Javed bowled 4 overs, while only conceding 16 runs for 3 wickets. Mohammad Asghar bowled brilliantly as well with his 2 for 27 runs. Yasir Shah and Amad Butt took 1 wicket each for Balochistan.
Imam-ul-Haq secures the win for Balochistan:
Balochistan required 145 runs off 120 balls to win the match against Southern Punjab. Imam-ul-Haq and Awais Zia came to bat first for their team. Imam-ul-Haq and Awais Zia provided Balochistan with a sound start with their partnership of 60 runs. Awais Zia was then dismissed by Zahid Mahmood for 22 off 24 balls. Imam-ul-Haq scored 51 runs off 39 balls for 6 fours to secure the game for his team.
39 balls
6 fours
51 runs@ImamUlHaq12 did some contribution to Baluchistan’s run chase. #SPvBAL LIVE: https://t.co/vHtxwEngNH#NationalT20Cup pic.twitter.com/9HsauEfosd— National T20 Cup 2019 (@TheRealPCB_Live) October 17, 2019
Bismillah Khan got bowled by Zahid Mahmood for 12 runs off 12 balls, but Balochistan’s captain Haris Sohail and Imran butt finished the job for their team. Haris Sohail scored 25 runs off 22 balls after hitting 3 fours and Imran Butt contributed 28 runs off 21 balls for 4 fours to finish the chase in 19.3 overs.
Balochistan won by 7 wickets with 3 balls to spare. Zahid Mahmood of Southern Punjab bowled exceptionally well after he claimed two wickets for 28 runs in his four overs.
The Points table of the National T20 Cup:
Balochistan remains on top of the points table with 6 points. Balochistan has won 3 out of 4 games they have played in the National T20 Cup. Sindh is on the second spot with 4 points right under Balochistan. Southern Punjab is now at the fifth spot with 2 points after winning 1 match out of 3.
