Defending champion Northern celebrated his 10th victory in a row (National T20 Cup for the first XI 2019 and 2020) by defeating last year’s finalist Balochistan in the 14th game of the National T20 Cup for Balochistan on Tuesday evening at Multan Cricket Stadium by a lead of First XI teams defeated seven wickets in 2020.
Balochistan v Northern Match 14 Highlights | Pakistan National T20 Cup 2020
This was the final game of the Multan Leg and the 33-match tournament will now resume on Friday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium with a clash between North and Central Punjab.
On Tuesday night, young wicketkeeper batsman Rohail Nazir, who was promoted in batting order, stroked 42 of the 27 balls that struck in third place under the floodlights of the Multan cricket stadium, around the platform for the comfortable pursuit of the 157-run Target to create by Northern.
Rohail hit a six and a fours in his innings, earning him the man-of-the-match prize. The Pakistani U19 captain added 52 runs with Umar Amin, who in his provisional prelude role made 30 out of 25 balls.
Asif Ali and Hammad Azam shared an uninterrupted 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket to get their side past the target with 13 balls. Asif’s 41 came out of 30 balls and included three sixes and two fours, while Hammad’s undefeated 30 required 23 balls. The right-hander hit four fours in his undefeated innings. Yasir Shah took two wickets for 32 runs for Balochistan.
In the meantime, Northern rested three star actors, the tempo duo of Haris Rauf, Musa Khan and the formally strong opener Zeeshan Malik. Sohail Tanvir, Hammad and Mohammad Ismail Khan replaced the trio in the eleven.
The experienced fast bowler Umar Gul, who won the Man of the Match prize in Balochistan’s victory against Central Punjab last night, was replaced by Khurram Shehzad in the line-up of Balochistan, while the leg spinner Usama Mir was replaced by the left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti replaced. Akbar-ur-Rehman replaced Imran Butt in the middle order.
“I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to hit high in order. I was convinced that I would take the opportunity at any time. I didn’t finish the game, but I’m happy with my contribution. We’re a side that is doing really well, and the teens are performing too. You must take full advantage of every opportunity you get.
“Captain Shadab Khan really supported me and told me that at some point in the tournament you will have a chance to hit high in order and I’m glad I made it count today.”
Balochistan won the throw and decided to hit first; They lost the form-strong Imam-ul-Haq early, the left-hander was sacked by Mohammad Amir for two runs. Awais Zia hit three fours in his 14 of eight balls before falling victim to the tricks of veteran pacer Sohail Tanvir.
Bismillah Khan fell to newcomer Ismail for 12 runs, shaking his side with 38 for three in game five. Captain Haris Sohail led the rescue operation. The left-hander hit two sixes and four fours in a typically stylish inning of 51 from 41 balls. Haris ran out at the end of the non-striker attempting a second run. Hair added 83 runs for the fourth wicket with Akbar.
Akbar held the innings along with Haris in a 38-run attempt in which he consumed 32 balls. The right-hander hit two sixes and two fours in his innings. For Northern, the experienced duo of Sohail and Amir took two wickets each, conceding 27 and 31 runs respectively.