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Stars-less Sindh outshone Balochistan in a low-scoring fixture of the National T20 Cup to finish the league round with six wins in 10 matches. The match was played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Monday.
Young Karachi-born batter Mohammad Taha stole the limelight as he helped Sindh overhaul the 114-run target with a gritty unbeaten 47 off 48 balls. His gritty inning on a challenging spin-friendly pitch was studded with four fours.
Just nine overs into the chase, Sindh lost their seasoned batting trio of Sharjeel Khan, Khurram Manzoor and Shan Masood with 53 runs on the board.
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Danish Aziz (19), supported Taha in the chase as the two strode past the Balochistan total and the two took the side past the target with eight balls and five wickets to spare. Off-spinner Mohammad Ibrahim Snr took two wickets for Balochistan.
Earlier, Sindh’s captain Shan Masood won the toss and opted to field. Balochistan openers Abdullah Shafique and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai added 54 runs for the first wicket, however, the duo could only score at a run-a-ball in their nine-over stay as Sindh bowlers maintained tight control.
Wahid was the first to go, he was dismissed by leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed for 29 off 30 balls (four fours). Abdullah followed Wahid to the dugout at the same score, the right-hander scored 22 off 26 balls (two fours).
Balochistan stuttered to 78 for four as Ibrahim Snr and Hidayatullah fell cheaply. Umaid Asif was then run out for five with the score at 96 in 18.3 overs.
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Skipper Sohail Akhtar who held the innings together played some big shots in the final overs to lift the side to 113 for five which despite his efforts was clearly an under par total. Sohail hit one four and two sixes in his 37 off 36 balls.
Abrar was the pick of the Sindh bowlers. In four overs, the promising spinner took two wickets for a mere 15 runs. Danish and Rumman Raees took a wicket apiece conceding 14 and 25 runs respectively in their hugely economical four-over spells.
With three wins and seven defeats out of 10 matches, Balochistan have been crashed out of the semi-final race after their narrow defeat to Home City Central Punjab last night.
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Sindh vs Balochistan highlights
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