LAHORE:Balochistan and Southern Punjab eased by to complete wins over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Northern in the present day within the tenth and closing spherical of the Pakistan Cup to cement their locations within the semi-finals of the 50-over event in Karachi on Thursday.
In response to the data made obtainable right here by the Pakistan Cricket Board, Central Punjab, who’ve topped the factors desk with 14 factors, will tackle fourth-placed Southern Punjab within the first semi-final on 31 December. Defending champions Balochistan, who ended up with 12 factors from 10 matches and on the second spot will tackle third-positioned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within the second semi-final on 1 January. The ultimate of the event might be performed on 2 January. Each semi-finals and the ultimate might be performed on the State Financial institution Stadium. The semi-finals might be broadcast reside on PTV Sports activities.
In in the present day’s fixture between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the NBP Sports activities Advanced, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after being put into bat, had been bowled out for 133 in 31 overs with Fakhar Zaman (32, 37b, 5×4) and Adil Amin (28 not out, 33b, 4×4) including runs with the bat.
For Balochistan, Mohammad Junaid was the decide of the bowlers with 4 for 37 from eight overs. Captain Yasir Shah bagged three wickets for 26.
In reply, Balochistan achieved the goal inside 19 overs with three wickets down. The opening pair of Haseebullah and Imran Butt knitted 64 runs for the primary wicket, with left-handed Haseebullah contributing 53 off 32 balls, smashing 11 fours. Imran, returned undefeated on 63 off 46 balls, hitting 10 fours and one six.
Within the contest between desk toppers Central Punjab and Nationwide T20 winners Sindh, the latter did not chase down the 311-run goal and with that misplaced an opportunity to seal a berth within the semi-finals. After being requested to bat first, Central Punjab scored 310 for 9 in 50 overs courtesy half-centuries by Ahmed Shehzad (67, 83b, 6×4, 2×6) and Tayyab Tahir (59, 46b, 5×4, 3×6).
For Sindh, Asif Mehmood and Sohail Khan took two wickets apiece.
In return, Sindh received a good 43-run begin supplied by southpaws Saim Ayub (15, 20b, 1×4) and Sharjeel Khan (32, 19b, 6×4), however after the departure of each batters, solely Faraz Ali coming to bat at quantity 4 confirmed some resistance with a knock of 64 off 80 balls, which included one 4 and two sixes.
Down the order, skipper Anwar Ali (30, 35b, 4×4) and Sohail Khan (43, 29b, 2×4, 4×6) confirmed some glimpses of brilliance, however had been unable to help the Sindh facet in reaching the goal as they had been bundled out for 244 with 5 overs to spare.
For the successful facet, Usama Mir grabbed three wickets, whereas Mohammad Ali and Waqas Maqsood took two wickets every.
Within the third contest of the tenth spherical, Southern Punjab, staged a surprising comeback to qualify for the semi-finals. Earlier than going through Northern within the closing spherical match, Southern Punjab had been positioned on the backside of the desk with six factors from 9 video games, however a complete eight-wicket win over Northern and getting the 121-run goal within the sixteenth over, not solely gave Southern Punjab beneficial two factors, but in addition improved their internet run-rate which helped them go above Sindh within the factors desk.
On the UBL Sports activities Advanced, after opting to bat first, Northern had been dismissed for 120 within the thirty second over. Mubasir Khan (29, 40b, 5×4) and Umar Amin (25, 44b, 3×4) had been the one batters to attain in 20s.
For Southern Punjab, Mohammad Umair took 4 wickets for 19 runs from seven overs, whereas Sharoon Siraj grabbed three wickets for 32.
In reply, Mohammad Shehzad’s unbeaten 60 off 50 balls, which included eight fours and one six helped his facet chase down the goal in 15.1 overs.
Scores in short:
Balochistan beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by seven wickets
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 133 all out, 31 overs (Fakhar Zaman 32, Adil Amin 28 not out; Mohammad Junaid 4-37, Yasir Shah 3-26)
Balochistan 137-3, 18.3 overs (Imran Butt 63 not out, Haseebullah 53; Ihsanullah 2-31)
Central Punjab beat Sindh by 66 runs
Central Punjab 310-9, 50 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 67, Tayyab Tahir 59; Sohail Khan 2-41, Asif Mehmood 2-65)
Sindh 244 all out, 45 overs (Faraz Ali 64, Sohail Khan 43, Sharjeel Khan 32; Usama Mir 3-41, Mohammad Ali 2-43, Waqas Maqsood 2-60)
Southern Punjab beat Northern by eight wickets
Northern 120 all out, 31.5 overs (Mubasir Khan 29, Umar Amin 25; Mohammad Umair 4-19, Sharoon Siraj 3-32)
Southern Punjab 121-2, 15.1 overs (Mohammad Shehzad 60 not out, Sharoon Siraj 37)
Semi-Last Fixtures:
31 December; Central Punjab v Southern Punjab, State Financial institution Stadium (1st semi-final)
1 January; Balochistan v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, State Financial institution Stadium (2nd semi-final).