Photo credit | PCB
Imran Khan’s four-for followed by captain Mohammad Rizwan’s heroic innings of 64 handed Southern Punjab their second consecutive defeat in the National T20 Cup. The match was played at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.
KP chased down the 153-run target with seven wickets and two balls to spare. Earlier after winning the toss, Rizwan put Southern Punjab into bat. KP bowling lineup, lead by Shaheen Shah Afridi took three quick wickets to keep Southern in check.
Zeeshan Ashraf (11), Zain Abbas (12) and captain Sohaib Maqsood (0), departed early, leaving 34/3. All-rounder Imran Randhawa who was promoted up the order scored a brilliant fifty to rebuild the innings with Khushdil Shah. The duo added a 69-run stand for the fourth wicket before losing their wickets. The next three wickets of Randhawa (54), Shah (24), and Azam Khan (12) fell quickly to hamper Southern Punjab’s slow.
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The team that looked set to touch the 170-run mark got bundled out for 152 runs inside 20 overs. Imran Khan Snr. And Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled brilliantly for KP and took four and three wickets respectively.
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Southern Punjab vs KP first innings highlights
courtesy: PCB
KP lost their first wicket early in the shape of Fakhar Zaman. He departed for one run in six balls. Nonetheless, Rizwan and Sahibzada Farhan stitched a 136-run partnership for the second wicket as the defending champions cantered to victory with two balls to spare.
With this win, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa got to their second victory of the tournament, while it left Southern Punjab winless after two matches. The two sides will meet in a return match at the Gaddafi Stadium on 10 October.
Farhan had joined Rizwan after Naseem Shah trapped Fakhar Zaman in front of the stumps at the score of four. Both batters departed on successive balls, but by that time only 13 runs were required off 17 balls, including six off the last over, which Adil Amin and Iftikhar Ahmed achieved without being separated.
Farhan scored a 49-ball 73 with six fours and four sixes, while Rizwan struck six fours and a six in a 47-ball 64.
Imran Khan Snr. was picked man of the match for his outstanding bowling figures.
