Karachi, 6 December, 2023: After a day’s rest in the AH Group presents Jazz Super 4G National T20 Cup 2023-24, the Super Eight stage action returned across three venues in Karachi.

Lahore Whites vs Rawalpindi at UBL Sports Complex

Rawalpindi secured a vital five-wicket win as they chased a target of 147 in 19.1 overs against Lahore Whites. Saad Nasim, Lahore Whites captain, won the toss and elected to bat first earlier in the day. Zaman Khan drew first blood as he dismissed a well-set Muhammad Akhlaq (37, 21b, 7x4s, 1×6). Lahore Blues lost Tayyab Tahir (22, 17b, 3x4s), Ahmed Shehzad (27, 29b, 1×4) and Saad Khan (6, 5b) in consecutive overs as Mubasir Khan and Jahandad Khan kept making inroads. Skipper Saad Nasim’s unbeaten 27-ball 33 laced with one six and two fours made sure Lahore Whites put up a competitive total on the board.

In reply, Rawalpindi openers scored briskly as they plundered 55 runs in 5.2 overs before Zeeshan Malik (21, 17b, 4x4s) had to depart. Lahore Whites then got three quick wickets including that of the in-form opener Yasir Khan (33, 28b, 4x4s). Skipper Umar Amin (25, 25b, 2x4s) joined forces with Mohammad Nawaz (22 not out, 23b, 2x4s) and made sure to take Rawalpindi close to the target. In the end, a timely cameo by Jahandad Khan (17 not out, 6b, 2x4s, 1×6) was crucial in taking Rawalpindi over the line.

Jahandad Khan was declared player of the match for his all-round heroics.

Lahore Blues vs FATA at NBP Sports Complex

At NBP Sports Complex, Lahore Blues put up a valiant effort to defend a total of 153 runs as FATA fell nine short of the target. Lahore Blues won the toss and elected to bat first. Opening batter Umar Siddiq (40, 28b, 5x4s, 2x6s) looked in good touch as he kept churning boundaries while his fellow opener Imran Butt (15, 24b, 1×4) struggled in the middle. Hussain Talat (57 not out, 36b, 2x4s, 1×6) led Lahore Blues from the front as he smashed an unbeaten fifty. Wicketkeeper-batter Junaid Ali’s (23, 15b, 3x4s) contribution also helped Lahore Blues post a decent total.

FATA’s pursuit of the chase was jolted by the loss of four wickets by the 50-run mark. Khushdil Shah (54, 42b, 2x4s, 3x6s) and Rehan Afridi (35, 30b, 4x4s) got together and kept FATA in the game. Kashif Bhatti struck at a crucial point in the game to remove both Khushdil and Rehan, which dented FATA’s chances of success. Hunain Shah bagged two wickets in the last over and kept FATA tail-enders at bay from pulling off anything magical.

Hussain Talat and Nisar Ahmed bagged joint player of the match award for their efforts with bat and ball respectively.

Peshawar vs Abbottabad at National Bank Stadium

Peshawar registered yet another magnificent win in the Super Eight stage as they beat Abbottabad by 21 runs. With this triumph, Iftikhar Ahmed-led Peshawar have also secured a semi-final berth. Peshawar openers Sahibzada Farhan (64, 40b, 7x4s, 3x6s) and Israrullah (22, 12b, 3x4s, 1×6), came out all guns blazing. Mohammad Haris (64, 49b, 6x4s, 2x6s), batting at number three, struggled early on but then became the glue for Peshawar’s innings with a fine half-century. Iftikhar Ahmed’s (28, 16b, 1×6, 3x4s) contribution saw the team surge to 195-4 in the allotted 20 overs.

In reply, Abbottabad lost three batters early in the powerplay but then Kamran Ghulam and Afaq Ahmed stitched a 92-run partnership that kept them in the game. Peshawar’s bowling effort was led by Mohammad Abbas Afridi, who bagged three wickets. He was also aided by fellow pacer Mohammad Imran and Iftikhar Ahmed as they kept Abbottabad in check.

Imran Khan Snr took the prized wicket of Kamran Ghulam. Only three Abbottabad batters managed to enter double-figures. Sahibzada Farhan was declared player of the match for his brilliant knock with the bat.

Karachi Whites vs Sialkot at National Bank Stadium

The 20th match saw Karachi Whites win against Sialkot at National Bank Stadium, Karachi. The Asad Shafiq-led team chased the 166-run target in 18 overs with six wickets to spare after restricting Sialkot to 165-9 in the first innings.

Sialkot won the toss and elected to bat first. The Karachi Whites bowlers struck early as Sialkot lost three batters inside the powerplay with the scorecard reading 57-3. The fourth wicket fell on the last ball of the subsequent over, bringing the score to 60-4 in seven overs.

Shoaib Malik, who came to the crease inside the powerplay after the fall of the second wicket, anchored the innings, hitting 54 from 44 deliveries including five fours and two sixes. His effort helped take Sialkot to a respectable total as Sialkot captain Bilal Asif (22, 16b, 2x4s, 1×6) chipped in with some crucial runs as well.

Sohail Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Karachi Whites, as he returned with three wickets. Right-arm fast bowler Aftab Ibrahim and left-arm spinner Danish Aziz had two scalps each while right-arm pacer Anwar Ali picked up a wicket as well.

Opening batter Ammad Alam took charge of the chase from the get-go. The right-hander took only 16 deliveries to hit 43 runs, showcasing two boundaries and five maximums, four of which came in one over bowled by Bilal. His innings was cut short after he was caught off Usman Khalid’s bowling.

Karachi Whites’ innings faltered in the middle as three more wickets fell and the scoring rate decreased. Wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan brought back the momentum to the chase, picking up where Ammad had left off. Azam produced an undefeated 59 from 24 balls, smashing six boundaries and four maximums, to see his side over the line with 12 deliveries to spare.

Right-arm pacer Mohammad Abbas and left-arm spinner Usman Khalid were the only two successful bowlers for Sialkot, yielding two wickets apiece as Karachi Whites successfully got to 166 with six wickets in the bag.

Scores in Brief:

Rawalpindi beat Lahore Whites by five wickets at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi

Lahore Whites 146-6, 20 overs (Muhammad Akhlaq 37, Saad Nasim 33 not out, Ahmed Shehzad 27; Zaman Khan 3-23, Jahandad Khan 2-27, Mubasir Khan 1-5)

Rawalpindi 147-5, 19.1 overs (Yasir Khan 33, Umar Amin 25, Mohammad Nawaz 22 not out; Saad Khan 2-17, Mohammad Rameez Jnr 1-16, Mohammad Irfan 1-32, Mohammad Naveed 1-34)

Player of the match – Jahandad Khan (Rawalpindi)

Lahore Blues beat FATA by eight runs at NBP Sports Complex, Karachi

Lahore Blues 153-4, 20 overs (Hussain Talat 57 not out, Umar Siddiq 40, Junaid Ali 23 not out; Khushdil Shah 2-31, Asif Ali 1-8)

FATA 145-9, 20 overs (Khushdil Shah 54, Rehan Afridi 35; Nisar Ahmad 3-16, Hunain Shah 2-22, Kashif Bhatti 2-39, Usman Qadir 1-18, Umaid Asif 1-29)

Player of the match – Nisar Ahmad and Hussain Talat (Lahore Blues)

Peshawar beat Abbottabad by 21 runs at National Bank Stadium, Karachi

Peshawar 195-4, 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 64, Mohammad Haris 64, Iftikhar Ahmed 28; Shahab Khan 2-37, Fayyaz Khan 1-41, Adil Naz 1-46)

Abbottabad 174-9, 20 overs (Kamran Ghulam 67, Afaq Ahmed 61; Mohammad Abbas Afridi 3-17, Iftikhar Ahmed 2-27, Sajid Khan 1-29, Imran Khan Snr 1-35, Mohammad Imran 1-38)

Player of the match – Mohammad Abbas Afridi (Peshawar)

Karachi Whites beat Sialkot by six wickets

Sialkot 165-9, 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 54, Bilal Asif 22; Sohail Khan 3-34, Aftab Ibrahim 2-20, Danish Aziz 2-22, Anwar Ali 1-22)

Karachi Whites 166-4, 18 overs (Azam Khan 59 not out, Ammad Alam 43; Usman Khalid 2-16, Mohammad Abbas 2-22)

Player of the match – Azam Khan (Karachi Whites)