KARACHI: Hard-hitting batsman Sohaib Maqsood slammed an explosive 125 off 86 balls to put Balochistan Warriors in the final when they snatched a sensational one-wicket victory against Punjab Badshahs in their last league game of the Pentangular Cup One-day Tournament here at the National Stadium on Saturday.
Now in the final on Sunday (today), Balochistan will take on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Fighters.
Badshahs, Warriors and Fighters finished their league phase with six points each but the later two earned ticket for the decider.
In order to surpass Punjab Badshahs on better net run-rate, Balochistan Warriors needed to achieve the 316-run target in 41.2 overs and they got it in 41 overs after losing nine wickets in the process.
Sohaib, who will represent Pakistan in the World Cup, put to sword the oppositions’ bowlers with merciless hitting as he smashed 15 fours and four sixes in his stunning knock.
Sohaib, who completed his third century in this form of cricket, added 50 for the second wicket with skipper Azhar Ali who hammered 56-ball 72 with 12 fours. He then shared 87 valuable runs for the fifth wicket with Usman Salahuddin (31*) to bring his side close to the target.
Usman, who scored the winning run off left-arm Test pacer Wahab Riaz, struck three fours from 31 balls.
Sami Aslam (11) and Ayaz Tasawwar (8) failed to make impression when their team was in deep trouble.
Ehsan Adil, who is also part of Pakistan’s world cup squad, in the end struck valuable 11 from nine balls, featuring one four.
Earlier, stumper Bismillah Khan struck run-a-ball 30 with five fours to provide Warriors 78-run opening stand with Azhar Ali.
Mohammad Talha, Raza Hasan, Imad Wasim and Wahab Riaz got two wickets each.
After being invited to bat first on the placid track, left-handers Nasir Jamshed (158) and Ali Waqas (86) batted with great command to provide a huge 220-run opening stand to Punjab Badshahs.
Ali Waqas, who was stumped by
Bismillah Khan off left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, hit ten fours from 118 deliveries.
Nasir, who struck his ninth hundred in this form of cricket, played some delightful strokes in his career-best knock.
Nasir, who failed to convince the selectors with his form earlier in the event which forced them to ignore him for the World Cup, smashed 21 fours and two sixes in his marathon 140-ball knock. Nasir, who was dropped at mid-on off Azhar Ali when on 142, fell in the 47th over, stumped by Bismillah off Azhar Ali.
After losing Umar Akmal (8), Shahid Yousuf then hit 36 off 26 balls with two sixes and four fours to propel Punjab Badshahs to 315-5 in the allotted 50 overs.
Zia-ul-Haq, Rahat Ali, Zulfiqar Babar, Kashif Bhatti and Azhar Ali claimed one wicket each.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Fighters coach Abdur Rehman said his team would beat Balochistan Warriors in the final.
“You know, we played extremely well in the league round and I am confident we will lift the title,” Abdur Rehman told ‘The News’ on Saturday.
He said that both Test bowlers Junaid Khan and Yasir Shah would play the final.
“Yes they both are available and our key bowlers,” said Rehman, also a former first-class cricketer.