RAWALPINDI: Sindh registered a 25-run win over defending champions Northern in a high-scoring match in the ongoing National T20 Cup at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a mammoth target of 222, Northern had a perfect start as their openers Zeeshan Malik (61) and Umar Amin (51) had a 116-run stand. However, it wasn’t enough for the side to seal a victory.
Later, Sindh all-rounder Anwar Ali turned the game in favour of Sindh as Northern lost both their openers and hard-hitting batsman, Asif Ali, run out, in three consecutive deliveries.
With Northern still needing 105 runs in 7 overs, Haider Ali (27) and Shadab Khan (26) tried to up the ante, but Northern fell short by 25 runs. Pacer Mohammad Hasnain returned with figures of 3-28 in his four overs.
Earlier, Sindh posted 221/4 in their allotted 20 overs, after being put in to bat by Northern. Opener Sharjeel Khan (21) and Saud Shakeel (25) couldn’t convert their innings into something substantial.
Middle-order batsman Azam Khan then took charge and played a blistering 88-run knock from 43 balls, which included eight sixes and five fours. Azam combined with skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed, who scored 52 from 28 balls, to stitch a 130-run partnership.
