The fourth day of the National T20 Cup 2023-24 ignited with fervor as eight matches electrified four venues in Karachi. Groups A and B witnessed Lahore Whites, Peshawar, Lahore Blues, and Islamabad triumph. Meanwhile, Rawalpindi and Abbottabad from Group C secured berths in the Super Eight stage, along with FATA and Sialkot from Group D, despite FATA’s loss against Multan.
Group A: Lahore Whites and Peshawar Dominate
At National Bank Stadium, Lahore Whites’ explosive batting duo, Ahmed Shehzad (81) and Muhammad Akhlaq (44 not out), spearheaded a dominant nine-wicket victory over Quetta. Earlier, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai’s gritty 79 propelled Quetta to 132-5, but Lahore Whites chased it down comfortably in 12 overs.
In another fixture at the same venue, Peshawar set a record by posting an astronomical 248-2 against Larkana, with Sahibzada Farhan (109 not out), Iftikhar Ahmed (76 not out), and Aamer Azmat (44) leading the onslaught. Larkana crumbled, managing only 122-7, succumbing to a staggering 126-run defeat.
Group B: Lahore Blues and Islamabad Victorious
Lahore Blues secured a hard-fought five-wicket win against Dera Murad Jamali at UBL Sports Complex. Rizwan Hussain (45) and Hussain Talat (43) guided their side to victory in the last over after restricting DM Jamali to 139-9 earlier.
Islamabad claimed a 10-run win over Hyderabad as Sarmad Bhatti’s unbeaten 56 powered Islamabad to 153-5. Haris Rauf and Umair Afridi shone with the ball, limiting Hyderabad to 143-7.
Group C: Rawalpindi and Abbottabad Seal Super Eight Berths
Rawalpindi’s formidable 232-3, fueled by Zeeshan Malik’s unbeaten 57, Yasir Khan’s 55, and Rehman Khan’s 52, proved insurmountable for Bahawalpur, who managed 195-7, falling short by 37 runs at HPC Oval Ground.
Abbottabad showcased a strong all-around performance, dismissing Faisalabad for 143 and comfortably chasing the target in 18.3 overs with six wickets in hand, courtesy of Kamran Ghulam’s unbeaten 62.
Group D: Multan’s Narrow Win and Sialkot’s Dominance
Multan secured a nail-biting three-run victory over FATA, defending their total of 153-5, despite Sharoon Siraj’s valiant 56 and Zain Abbas’s 44. FATA fell just short, finishing at 150-7.
Sialkot cruised to a commanding nine-wicket win over AJK, bundling them out for 59 and easily chasing down the target in a mere six overs.
The intense clashes of the fourth day set the stage for the upcoming fixtures, promising more thrill and excitement in the tournament.
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