What a game of cricket! What a show! Batting first Northern score a mammoth 211 for the fall of five wickets. Haider Ali might have been given some chances by the fielders, but did make the most of it by smashing 72 runs off 40 deliveries. Imad Wasim's cameo of 40 from 18 also played a major role as well, while, Asif Ali and Mohammad Nawaz also chipped in with the bat.
Southern Punjab did start off well by scoring 60 runs in the first six overs of power play. However, Salman Irshad did pile the pressure and bowled a terrific spell of 2 for 27 in four overs. It was then the middle order batters who then displayed character, led by Agha Salam and his swashbuckling knock of 68* from 40 deliveries. A couple of 20s from Azam Khan and Khusil Shah, followed by a match-winning cameo of 41 from 21 by the skipper Aamer Yamin prove to be pivotal. Eventually, it was Southern Punjab that secured a win by four wickets and a ball to spare. Shadab Khan and his men have plenty of talking points, while, Northern looks to build further on from tonight's result.
Player of the Match: Agha Khan
19.5 M Nawaz to A Salman
6 GAME! SET AND MATCH TO SP. Full toss hit down the ground over extra cover for six. WOW! Salman your beauty. First, win for Southern Punjab in 7games. They deserve it after playing at short notice. Great shot to win it in style.
19.4 M Nawaz to A Salman
4 Lower full toss and flayed away through cover-point for a boundary. That's the boundary they needed. Width given got punished. Scores level with 2 balls to go. What a shot.
19.3 M Nawaz to H Khan
1 Off the mark straight away. Drilled down the ground for a run too long-off. 5 off 3
W In the air, and it's through point, dive from Shadab, doesn't get there, coming back for the second and Yamin is short of his ground. Run out. 1 run completed. Aamer Yamin the captain departs.
19.1 M Nawaz to A Salman
1 On-off stump flayed away through covers for a run. 7 needed off 5 now.
OVER 19
Southern Punjab
204/5
Aamer Yamin
40(20)
Agha Salman
57(37)
Sohail Tanvir
0-55(4.0)
So, 8 needed off the last over. It's SP's game to lose now. 17 runs of the penultimate over bowled by Sohail Tanvir. Could be the game-changer here. Mohammad Nawaz is the spinner to bowl the final over. Big call, gamble this from Shadab.
18.6 S Tanvir to A Salman
1 Slower yorker by the bowler. Salman gets some contact with the bat and scampers for one. 8 now needed of 6!
18.5 S Tanvir to A Yamin
1 Better line from Tanvir, as Yamin places it to mid wicket for one run