RAWALPINDI: Right-arm pacer Haris Rauf’s stunning bowling helped Northern to beat Southern Punjab by five runs in the ongoing National T20 Cup today (Sunday).
Chasing a target of 146 runs, Southern Punjab suffered an early setback when Haris Rauf removed opener Umar Siddiq for a duck in second over of the innings.
Rauf continued to maintain pressure on Southern Punjab by dismissing Shan Masood (4) and Hussain Talat (12). The right-arm pacer finished with the figures of 4-25 in four overs.
An in-form Khushdil Shah was looking in ominous form as he hit Shadab Khan for two sixes. However, a suicidal run-attempt led to his downfall on 26.
Following Khushdil’s dismissal, wicketkeeper-batsman Zeeshan Ashraf tried to up the ante, but hit one shot too many as he was caught at long off boundary by Mohammad Nawaz for 25.
For Southern Punjab, all-rounder Aamer Yamin finished the innings with the top score of 33 off 19 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes. Earlier, Southern Punjab restricted Northern to 145/7 after electing to field first.
Southern Punjab’s decision paid dividends as Northern lost their both openers, Zeeshan Malik (6) and Umar Amin (4), inside the power play.
Coming in at one-down, Sohail Akhtar top-scored for Northern with a 35-run knock. However, pacer Mohammad Ilyas trapped him lbw leaving the batting side reeling at 63/4.
