LAHORE- Haider Ali’s scintillating 86 set a 39-run win for Northern in opposition to Balochistan within the 27th match of the Nationwide T20 Cup First XI match performed on the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday. This was Northern’s seventh win in 9 matches.
The suitable-handed batsman together with Ali Imran, who blasted 41 off 22 behind three sixes and 4 fours, supplied a glowing begin to Northern with a 92-run opening stand from simply 8.three overs. He then weathered the storm in a 50-run alliance, fashioned over 26 balls, with Shadab Khan after Northern slipped to 101 for 3 with the dismissals of Sohail Akhtar (one off two) and Asif Ali (three of seven) in 9 balls.
Haider dismissed by Akhtar Shah, promoted to Balochistan’s First XI staff after a formidable run within the Second XI Nationwide T20 Cup, on the final ball of the 15th over – struck 5 sixes and eight fours within the 50 balls he confronted as he scored his 86 runs at a strike fee of 172. He was later named man-of-the-match. This was the 20-year-old’s second half-century of the match and fourth of his total T20 profession and proved to be instrumental in serving to Northern, the table-toppers, put up an imposing 199 for six.
Reflecting on his match-defining innings, Haider stated: “I am quite happy that I have received a man-of-the-match award at my home ground. I am making a comeback so it was important for me to adjust to the conditions. “Opening the batting helped me in that regard as I got ample time to read them before I played my shots freely.”
Following Haider’s dismissal, Shadab, who by then had made 15 off 10, took the lead position as he completed on 42 not out from 27. Balochistan’s Amad Butt took two wickets for 29 runs. Balochistan, within the reply, crumbled after a 69-run opening stand between Imam-ul-Haq and Awais Zia. The partnership was damaged within the eighth over as Imam, who made the best rating of the innings with 35 off 21 balls, was run out.
Shadab’s leg-spin aggravated the scenario for Balochistan because the 22-year-old dismissed Awais (34 off 27, two fours and two sixes) and Bismillah Khan (zero off one) on back-to-back balls within the ninth over. A 37-run partnership between Haris Sohail and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai for the fourth wicket adopted. However, that would not assist Balochistan bounce again into the match as they did not get well from the sooner collapse and completed 39 runs brief. Northern’s Shadab and Mohammad Ismail completed with two wickets apiece.
SCORES IN BRIEF
NORTHERN 199-6, 20 overs (Haider Ali 86, Shadab Khan 42 not out, Ali Imran 41; Amad Butt 2-29) beat BALOCHISTAN 160-8, 20 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 35, Awais Zia 34, Haris Sohail 28; Shadab Khan 2-13; Mohammad Ismail 2-32).
