Saif Badar and Tayyab Tahir centuries give Central Punjab top spot in Pakistan Cup 2023

Saif Badar and Tayyab Tahir’s centuries helped Central Punjab successfully chase a 348-run target against Sindh in the fifth round match of the Pakistan Cup at the UBL Sports Complex in Karachi on Sunday. The win also cemented Central Punjab’s position at the top of the six-team table with four wins from five outings, while Sindh having four points dropped to fourth spot with two wins and three losses.

Meanwhile, in other fifth round matches, Balochistan’s Amad Butt maiden List A century and an all-round performance by Mohammad Junaid handed Balochistan a 89-run over Southern Punjab at the State Bank Stadium. After today’s win, the defending champions Balochistan occupy second spot in the points table with six points, while Southern Punjab with only one win in the competition are placed at the bottom.

At the NBP Sports Complex, Northern captain Umar Amin’s century helped his side overcome Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by 68 runs and also take third position in the points table with six points, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are fifth with four points.

Central Punjab v Sindh, UBL Sports Complex

Sindh after being put into bat scored 347 for eight in their 50 overs. Opening batter Sharjeel Khan led the charge, scoring 114 off just 80 balls. The left-hander’s innings included 10 fours and nine sixes. Mohammad Suleman was another notable run-getter for his side with a 52-ball 40, hitting three fours and one six.

For Central Punjab, Mohammad Faizan was the most successful bowler with match figures of 7-0-54-3. He was supported by Bilawal Bhatti with two for 58 runs from his 10 overs.

In return, Central Punjab did not have the start they were hoping for as four of their batters were sent back to the pavilion with 63 runs on the board. Opening batter Tayyab was joined by Saif Badar and the duo played shots at will and never allowed the opposing bowlers to settle down. Tayyab top-scored for his side with a 109-ball 139, smashing 10 fours and eight sixes. He knitted a 194-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Saif.

Saif’s undefeated 114-run innings included seven fours and four sixes, which came off 94 balls. After the departure of Tayyab, Saif and Muhammad Irfan Khan got together and helped their side cross the line in the 46^th over with five wickets in hand. The pair stitched an unbroken 93-run partnership for the sixth wicket.

Irfan returned unbeaten on 46 from 35 balls, studded with five fours.

For Sindh, Asif Mehmood took two wickets for 55 from nine overs.

Balochistan v Southern Punjab, State Bank Stadium

After being asked to bat first by Southern Punjab’s captain Hasan Ali, Balochistan scored 278 for seven in 50 overs. The match was also live-streamed on PCB’s YouTube channel and saw right-handed Amad Butt scoring his first List A century.

Batting at number eight, Amad came to the crease when Balochistan were in a spot of bother, losing six wickets for 130 runs. He joined Mohammad Junaid and the pair added a valuable 117-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Amad returned undefeated on 104 off 91 balls, smashing four fours and nine towering sixes. Junaid scored an 80-ball 87, hitting four fours and seven sixes.

For Southern Punjab, Sharoon Siraj was the pick of the bowlers, taking four for 48 in nine overs.

In reply, Southern Punjab never looked in a position to achieve the target as only one batter Zain Abbas (51, 64b, 3×4, 2×6) managed to score a half-century. Four of their batters including captain Hasan’s scores were in 20s, but that was not enough for Southern Punjab to win their second match of the tournament. They were eventually bowled out for 189 in the 36^th over.

Junaid, with his left-arm spin took four wickets for 54 from nine overs, while skipper Yasir Shah took two wickets for 40.

Northern v Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, NBP Sports Complex

A captain’s innings by Umar Amin led Northern to a 68-run win over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This was Northern’s third win in the tournament. After being put into bat by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s captain Sajid Khan, Northern managed to score 305 for nine in their 50 overs.

The left-handed Umar, coming to bat at number three top-scored for his side with a 104-ball 112, laced with 11 fours and one six. He knitted a 101-run partnership for the second wicket with Haider Ali (69, 94b, 6×4, 1×6). Wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir, batting at number five, scored 45 off 37, which included two fours and as many sixes.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mohammad Amir Khan grabbed three wickets for 72, while Ihsanullah and Khushdil Shah took two wickets each.

In reply, Kamran Ghulam (92, 103b, 5×4, 4×6) and Waqar Ahmed (42, 49b, 7×4) showed some intent to achieve the target, but that was not good enough as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were bowled out for 237 in the 44^th over.

For the winning side, Kashif Ali and Mehran Mumtaz bagged three wickets apiece, while Umer Khan ended up taking two wickets for 39 runs from seven overs.

Scores in brief:

Balochistan beat Southern Punjab by 89 runs

Balochistan 278-7, 50 overs (Amad Butt 104 not out, Mohammad Junaid 87, Ali Waqas 33; Sharoon Siraj 4-48)

Southern Punjab 189 all out, 35.2 overs (Zain Abbas 51; Mohammad Junaid 4-54, Yasir Shah 2-40)

Player of the match – Mohammad Junaid (Balochistan)

Central Punjab beat Sindh by five wickets

Sindh 347-8, 50 overs (Sharjeel Khan 114, Mohammad Suleman 40, Saad Khan 34, Omair Bin Yousuf 31; Mohammad Faizan 3-54, Bilawal Bhatti 2-58)

Central Punjab 348-5, 45.2 overs (Tayyab Tahir 139, Saif Badar 114 not out, Muhammad Irfan Khan 46 not out; Asif Mehmood 2-55)

Player of the match – Tayyab Tahir (Central Punjab)

Northern beat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by 68 runs

Northern 305-9, 50 overs (Umar Amin 112, Haider Ali 69, Rohail Nazir 45; Mohammad Amir Khan 3-72, Khushdil Shah 2-41, Ihsanullah 2-64)

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 237 all out, 43.5 overs (Kamran Ghulam 92, Waqar Ahmed 42; Kashif Ali 3-18, Mehran Mumtaz 3-48, Umer Khan 2-39)

Player of the match – Umar Amin (Northern)

Points Table of Pakistan Cup 2022-2023 after fifth round: