Karachi Whites scripted history in a riveting encounter at the National Bank Stadium, securing their first-ever National T20 Cup title with a hard-fought nine-run win against Abbottabad. This win marked a significant milestone for Karachi Whites, elevating them to glory after a gap of several years since their last final appearance in 2016-17.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Karachi Whites faced early setbacks but a resilient effort from Khurram Manzoor’s half-century and a vital partnership between Omair Bin Yousuf and Manzoor stabilized their innings. Despite the bowling prowess displayed by Shahab Khan, who secured a remarkable four-wicket haul, Karachi Whites posted a competitive total of 155-9 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.
In pursuit of the target, Abbottabad confronted a challenging chase from the onset. Despite a valiant effort by Atizaz Habib Khan, who struck a blistering unbeaten 43, Abbottabad faced frequent setbacks with wickets falling at regular intervals. Shahnawaz Dahani’s remarkable three-wicket haul and his crucial strikes in the 18th over tilted the scales in favor of Karachi Whites.
Fayyaz Khan’s aggressive cameo and Atizaz’s resilient innings attempted to steer Abbottabad towards victory, but Karachi Whites’ determined bowling unit held their nerve to restrict the opposition to 146-9 in 20 overs.
Shahab Khan concluded the tournament as the highest wicket-taker, amassing 25 wickets in ten matches at an impressive average of 11.64, earning him the Best Bowler of the Tournament award. Sahibzada Farhan from Peshawar received the Best Batter accolade for his exceptional performance, accumulating 492 runs in 12 games, including a century and four half-centuries.
Iftikhar Ahmed from Peshawar was honored as the Player of the Tournament for his exceptional all-round display, amassing 395 runs and claiming 18 wickets. Karachi Whites’ Shahnawaz Dahani was declared the Player of the Final for his pivotal three-wicket haul that steered his team to a memorable victory.
The National T20 Cup’s conclusion witnessed Karachi Whites’ triumph as they celebrated a fantastic season, having earlier secured the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and finishing as runners-up in the Pakistan Cup.
The tournament’s success was marked by outstanding individual performances and thrilling cricketing action, reaffirming the enduring excitement of Pakistan’s domestic cricket landscape.
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