KARACHI: Balochistan held their nerves when it mattered most to earn a narrow two-run victory against Sindh in their First XI National T20 Cup fixture in Multan on Thursday.

On Day two of the competition at the Multan Cricket Stadium, Sindh made a belated charge when it seemed they would fall well short of the 181-run target. Anwar Ali and Sohail Khan revived their team’s hopes in a quickfire partnership of 44 but Balochistan clawed back to gain two priceless points.

Opting to bat first after Haris Sohail won the toss, Balochistan collected 180-8 largely due to their wicket-keeper/batsman Bismillah Khan, who was the only player to play a substantial innings in this game. He scored 58 from 42 deliveries while striking four fours and three sixes — a knock that eventually fetched him the man-of-the-match award.

Sindh lost their way during the chase as they slipped to 64-3 after nine overs. Asad Shafiq was the top scorer with a 25-ball 32 which included a delectable deflection down to the third-man fence among his four boundaries.

Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, sporting a new look with trimmed haircut, just couldn’t get the momentum and one attempt to go big cost the former Pakistan skipper his wicket.

Sohail and Anwar made the game exciting with their hitting with Sohail thrashing three sixes and a brace of boundaries in his 16-ball cameo off 31 but it proved futile at the end.

When this report was being filed reigning champions Northern were in action against Southern Punjab.

Meanwhile in Wedne­sday’s night fixture, the 20-year-old Abdullah Shafiq showcased his stature as another promising batsman with an unforgettable T20 debut century when Central Punjab nonchalantly cruised to a seven-wicket victory against Southern Punjab.

The star of the night, undoubtedly, was Abdullah who registered a unique double upon reaching the three-figure landmark. In his only first-class appearance last winter, the right-hander from Sialkot hit up 133 during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy game versus Southern Punjab at the SBP Sports Complex in Karachi last December.

After Southern Punjab had racked up 200-8 while batting first with 51 apiece from the bats of skipper Shan Masood and Sohaib Maqsood, Central Punjab were in a rude shock when Aamir Yamin reduced them 1-2 by dismissing Rizwan Hussain and Test opener Abid Ali for ducks.

But Abdullah then partnered Kamran Akmal (75 off 41 balls, 11 fours and two sixes) in a game-changing part­ne­rship of 145. The youngster finished on an unbeaten 102 off 58 balls with 68 of the runs coming through 11 fours and four sixes.

Scores in brief:

First XI:

Played on Thursday:

Balochistan beat Sindh by two runs.

BALOCHISTAN 180-8 in 20 overs (Bismillah Khan 58, Awais Zia 25, Haris Sohail 25; Mohammad Hasnain 2-31); SINDH 178-9 in 20 overs (Asad Shafiq 32, Sohail Khan 31 not out, Sarfaraz Ahmed 20, Anwar Ali 20; Amad Butt 3-39, Akif Javed 2-32).

Played on Wednesday:

Central Punjab beat Southern Punjab by seven wickets.

SOUTHERN PUNJAB 200-8 in 20 overs (Shan Masood 51, Sohaib Maqsood 51, Hussain Talat 34; Sohaibullah 3-26, Usman Qadir 2-31); CENTRAL PUNJAB 201-3 in 19 overs (Abdullah Shafiq 102 not out, Kamran Akmal 75; Aamir Yamin 2-34).

Second XI summary on Thursday:

Central Punjab beat Sindh by four wickets.

SINDH 129-8 in 20 overs (Jaahid Ali 23, Saifullah Khan Bangash 20 not out, Saad Ali 20; Kamran Afzal 2-23, CENTRAL PUNJAB 130-6 in 19.4 overs (Mohammad Akhlaq 57 not out, Raza Ali Dar 27; Mohammad Umar 3-23, Ibtisam Sheikh 2-36).

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa beat Balochistan by 48 runs.

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA 189-4 in 20 overs (Adil Amin 119 not out, Israrullah 34, Rehan Afridi 23 not out; Taj Wali 2-38); BALOCHISTAN 141 in 20 overs (Gulraiz Sadaf 40 not out, Azeem Ghumman 39; Khalid Usman 2-24, Sameen Gul 2-32).

Friday’s fixtures:

First XI: Balochistan vs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (3:00pm); Central Punjab vs Sindh (7:30pm).

Second XI: Northern vs Southern Punjab (9:30am); Balochistan vs Sindh (3:00pm).

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2020