KARACHI: A brilliant century by young all-rounder Qasim Akram steered Central Punjab to a 17-run win over Balochistan in their Pakistan Cup match here at the State Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Right-handed Qasim, who was named player-of-the-match, smashed a 108-ball 131 studded with 12 fours and five sixes and in the process stitched a crucial 104-run partnership with opener Mohammad Faizan (51 off 53) after Central Punjab lost the first two wickets for no score.

Central Punjab were eventually bowled out for 240 in 43 overs as the next best score after Faizan’s 51 was 13 from Irfan Khan and Usama Mir.

Balochistan could muster 223 for nine in reply despite Haseebullah’s half-century (51), Bismillah Khan’s 49, Asad Shafiq’s 45 and 40 from Amad Butt.

Aamer Yamin took three wickets for 39 and Usama accounted for two batters.

At the UBL Sports Complex, Omair Bin Yousuf’s 99 not out off 129 balls (eight fours) helped Sindh chase a tough 273 against Northern.

Sharjeel Khan (69) and Danish Aziz (50) were other notable run-getters as Sindh chased down the target in 48 overs for the loss of five wickets.

Earlier, Anwar Ali took three wickets while Mohammad Hasnain and Asif Mehmood equally shared four wickets between them as Northern managed 272 for eight in the stipulated 50 overs.

Umair Masood and Umar Akmal, batting at seven and six, respectively, played crucial knocks of run-a-ball 68 and 65-ball 53 after the top order failed to click.

Omair was named player-of-the-match.

Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan’s century and Arshad Iqbal’s four-wicket haul scripted a 36-run win for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over Southern Punjab at the NBP Sports Complex.

Sahibzada, who was declared man-of-the-match, made a 117-ball 107 featuring five fours and three sixes to lift Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to 265 for nine. Mohammad Haris (38) was the next best batter, while Waqar Ahmed and Adil Amin made 30 each.

Southern Punjab’s Mohammad Ismail took three wickets for 58 and Faisal Akram took two for 65.

Southern Punjab were bowled out for 229 in 45 overs as Arshad Iqbal dismissed Sharoon Siraj (30), Arafat Minhas (34), Sameen Gul (one) and Mohammad Ismail (three). Mohammad Amir Khan took three wickets for 32 while Ihsanullah picked up two.

Opener Zain Abbas, with 86 off 105, provided a solid start, adding 66 for the first wicket with Mohammad Shehzad (40 off 42) but after Sharoon and Arafat, the next batters couldn’t make the most of it.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2022