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Friday March 29, 2024

Balochistan beat Sindh to continue winning run

By Alam Zeb Safi
April 05, 2019

KARACHI: Umar Akmal (99) and Zeeshan Ashraf (75) batted well as Amad Butt’s all-round display shepherded Balochistan to their second successive win when they conquered Sindh by 72 runs in the high-scoring day-night game of the Pakistan Cup 2019 at Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi on Thursday.

Umar smashed six sixes and seven fours in his fiery 66-ball knock, while left-handed Zeeshan hammered nine fours and one six in his run-a-ball effort to catapult Balochistan to 346-9 in the allotted 50 overs.

Amad then took 3-58 in ten overs to dismiss Sindh for 274 in 44.2 overs. After being invited to bat, Balochistan suffered an early blow when off-spinner Ashiq Ali removed left-handed international Awais Zia (13) cheaply.

Zeeshan and skipper Asad Shafiq (53) then put together 100 runs for the second wicket association to pave way for posting a huge total. Hyderabad-born spinner Nauman Ali broke the partnership as a result of a controversial decision when he had Zeeshan, held by keeper Umar Siddiq.

It was a delivery that pitched on the leg-stump, moving away from the left-hander and it appeared that the ball went to the keeper without kissing the batsman’s bat. Soon afterwards, Nauman sent Asad back, trapped leg-before wicket, after Pakistan’s compact Test batsman had hit two sixes and two fours in his 47-ball knock.

Fawad Alam (24) then shared 58 valuable runs for the fourth wicket stand with Umar Akmal before the discarded left-handed international was excellently held by Asif Ali at short mid-on off the bowling of Umar Gul.

Fawad struck two fours from 28 deliveries. Umar continued to play until he was bowled by discarded Test pacer Rahat Ali off the first ball of the 47th over when he was just one run short of what could be his second successive hundred in the event.

Umar had scored 136 not out in the first game against Punjab the other day. Young all-rounder Amad Butt played a superb innings. He hammered an entertaining 18-ball 42 not out to help his side reach a massive total. Amad hammered three sixes and five fours in his knock.

Discarded international all-rounder Hammad Azam (2-36 in 7 overs) and Nauman Ali (2-59 in 10 overs) were the successful bowlers. In response, Sindh were provided with a solid 57-run opening stand by Umar Siddiq (88) and Sahibzada Farhan (19) before young pacer Haris Rauf removed the latter. Farhan hammered four fours from 20 balls.

Siddiq and Ahsan Ali (42) then added 92 for the second wicket stand to keep the run-chase alive. Medium-pacer Amad Butt got the prized scalp of Ahsan after he had smacked four fours and one six in his 47-ball knock. Sindh were 149-2.

Soon afterwards, Siddiq got run out that left Sindh in deep trouble. The left-handed wicket-keeper batsman smashed two sixes and 12 fours in his rapid 64-ball knock.

Amad then had Asif Ali (2) before Fawad Alam getting the valuable wicket of Hammad Azam (0) to leave Sindh gasping at 164-5 in the 25th over.

At that stage, it was expected that Balochistan would keep the pressure but Umar Amin (60) and Aamer Yamin (46) had other ideas as the duo added 93 for the sixth wicket partnership to keep their chance alive.

Left-arm spinner Umar Khan finally broke the dangerous partnership by removing Yamin that once again tilted the pendulum on favour of Balochistan.

Yamin smashed five fours and one six in his 41-ball knock. Sindh were 257-6 in 38.2 overs at that time.

Sindh’s wickets kept falling at regular interval and were folded for 274 in 44.4 overs. Umar Amin was the last batsman to fall.

Man of the Match Amad Butt was ably backed by international left-armer Mohammad Irfan who took 2-58 in 8.2 overs.

Asif Yaqoob and Tahir Rasheed supervised the match while Aziz-ur-Rehman served as match referee.

On Friday (today), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will face Punjab.