87/2 (8.2)
CR : 10.44
86/10 (14.3)
CR : 5.93
Abbottabad Region won by 8 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Shadab Khan
3/10
8.2
6
A Raza to K Ghulam
SIX RUNS! That's it! Ghulam finishes things in style, and Abbottabad win by 8 wickets with 70 balls to spare, securing their place in the semifinals. Short of a length slower delivery on the stumps. The right-hander picks it up early and pulls it over deep square leg for a maximum to seal the game.
Over 9
Abbottabad Region 87/2
Kamran Ghulam46(23)
Afaq Khan5(6)
Ali Raza II0-17(1.2)
ABT won by 8 wickets
8:04 PM IST, 7:34 PM LOCAL TIME: Abbottabad Region cruised to victory with an emphatic 8-wicket win, chasing 87 in just 8.2 overs after bundling out Lahore Region Blues for 86 in 14.3 overs. The match was decided early when Abbottabad’s bowlers ripped through Lahore’s batting lineup, with Shadab Khan leading the charge with 3 wickets. Lahore’s bowlers tried to fight back in the chase, even dismissing Fakhar Zaman for a duck, but the calm partnership between Shahzaib Khan (32) and Kamran Ghulam (46) quickly took the game away. A clinical performance. A comfortable victory. And most importantly… Abbottabad Region have secured a place in the semi-finals of the National T20 Cup 2026.
The Powerplay? Any drama early on? Oh yes. Drama right from the first over. Fakhar Zaman fell for a duck on the second delivery, caught off Mohammad Salman, giving Lahore a dream start. The scoreboard read 0/1, and for a brief moment, hope flickered for Lahore. But then came the counterattack. Shahzaib Khan and Kamran Ghulam immediately switched gears, finding boundaries regularly and punishing loose deliveries. By the end of the Powerplay, Abbottabad had raced past 50 runs, shifting the momentum firmly in their favor.
Did Lahore manage to claw back? They tried. But the target was simply too small. Lahore did manage a second breakthrough when Asadullah dismissed Shahzaib Khan for 32, ending a crucial 57-run partnership for the second wicket. Shahzaib had struck 5 fours and a six, setting the tone for the chase. But Abbottabad were already cruising. Kamran Ghulam continued the assault, smashing boundaries and sixes while calmly steering the innings toward the finish line. He remained unbeaten on 46 off just 23 balls, striking two fours and four sixes at a blistering strike rate of 200. A chase that barely broke a sweat.
Let’s rewind to the first innings. Earlier, how did Lahore Region Blues start their Powerplay with the bat? Actually, Lahore started decently. Umar Siddique and Abdullah Asif stitched together a 28-run opening stand, before Fayyaz Khan struck. Soon after, Arshad Iqbal removed Abdullah Asif, and suddenly the pressure started to build. The only real spark came from Hamza Zahoor, who smashed 18 off just 8 balls with two sixes, briefly lifting the scoring rate.
The middle overs? This is where the collapse began. Abbottabad’s bowlers applied relentless pressure. Shadab Khan spun a web, picking up three wickets for just 10 runs, while Arshad Iqbal and Shahab Khan chipped in with two each. Wickets fell regularly, and the Lahore lineup struggled to build any partnership. Even Ali Razzaq’s 14 and Hunain Shah’s 10 couldn’t change the momentum.
The tail offered little resistance as Abbottabad wrapped things up for 86 in 14.3 overs. The last three wickets fell within eight runs, highlighting the dominance of the bowling unit. Shadab Khan’s 3 wickets, supported by Arshad Iqbal and Shahab Khan, ensured Lahore never recovered from the middle-order collapse.
The Powerplay? Any drama early on? Oh yes. Drama right from the first over. Fakhar Zaman fell for a duck on the second delivery, caught off Mohammad Salman, giving Lahore a dream start. The scoreboard read 0/1, and for a brief moment, hope flickered for Lahore. But then came the counterattack. Shahzaib Khan and Kamran Ghulam immediately switched gears, finding boundaries regularly and punishing loose deliveries. By the end of the Powerplay, Abbottabad had raced past 50 runs, shifting the momentum firmly in their favor.
Did Lahore manage to claw back? They tried. But the target was simply too small. Lahore did manage a second breakthrough when Asadullah dismissed Shahzaib Khan for 32, ending a crucial 57-run partnership for the second wicket. Shahzaib had struck 5 fours and a six, setting the tone for the chase. But Abbottabad were already cruising. Kamran Ghulam continued the assault, smashing boundaries and sixes while calmly steering the innings toward the finish line. He remained unbeaten on 46 off just 23 balls, striking two fours and four sixes at a blistering strike rate of 200. A chase that barely broke a sweat.
Let’s rewind to the first innings. Earlier, how did Lahore Region Blues start their Powerplay with the bat? Actually, Lahore started decently. Umar Siddique and Abdullah Asif stitched together a 28-run opening stand, before Fayyaz Khan struck. Soon after, Arshad Iqbal removed Abdullah Asif, and suddenly the pressure started to build. The only real spark came from Hamza Zahoor, who smashed 18 off just 8 balls with two sixes, briefly lifting the scoring rate.
The middle overs? This is where the collapse began. Abbottabad’s bowlers applied relentless pressure. Shadab Khan spun a web, picking up three wickets for just 10 runs, while Arshad Iqbal and Shahab Khan chipped in with two each. Wickets fell regularly, and the Lahore lineup struggled to build any partnership. Even Ali Razzaq’s 14 and Hunain Shah’s 10 couldn’t change the momentum.
The tail offered little resistance as Abbottabad wrapped things up for 86 in 14.3 overs. The last three wickets fell within eight runs, highlighting the dominance of the bowling unit. Shadab Khan’s 3 wickets, supported by Arshad Iqbal and Shahab Khan, ensured Lahore never recovered from the middle-order collapse.
It's time for the post-match presentation......
Player of the Match: Shadab Khan
Shadab Khan (POTM): "I think our bowling unit gave us a very good start, which we had been missing throughout the tournament as we hadn’t started well with the ball in earlier games. This match was kind of a quarterfinal for us, and hopefully we can continue to perform the same way in the remaining two matches. On these kinds of pitches, you need to have variations to deceive the batters."
Umar Siddique (Lahore Region Blues Captain): (On being asked about the disappointing performance in the tournament without winning a match) “Yes, it has been very disappointing. We could not perform well in all three departments - bowling, batting, and fielding. We were a young team. There were only three or four senior players, and the team combination did not come together.
(On the plan after the tournament) We will sit together, discuss everything, and try to do much better next time. Yes, it will be difficult because we are the defending champions, so there will definitely be disappointment. Last year, we had a very good combination, but this time, six or seven of those players were not available.
(On the approach for the upcoming qualifiers) We will try to make the best possible team and come back with better results. There were some positives. Razzaq batted very well in the first match, and Hamza also performed well. My own form was good. Rizwan bowled well as well, and today Asadullah also bowled very well.
(On the development of young players) Our young players are coming through - they just need time to grow. We will go back, rebuild the combination, and come back stronger in the qualifier round.”
(On the plan after the tournament) We will sit together, discuss everything, and try to do much better next time. Yes, it will be difficult because we are the defending champions, so there will definitely be disappointment. Last year, we had a very good combination, but this time, six or seven of those players were not available.
(On the approach for the upcoming qualifiers) We will try to make the best possible team and come back with better results. There were some positives. Razzaq batted very well in the first match, and Hamza also performed well. My own form was good. Rizwan bowled well as well, and today Asadullah also bowled very well.
(On the development of young players) Our young players are coming through - they just need time to grow. We will go back, rebuild the combination, and come back stronger in the qualifier round.”
Fakhar Zaman (Abbottabad Region Captain): "I think our team played very well today. We bowled in the right areas and also took some good catches. In cricket, you always need to keep improving in every department.
Our new boys don’t have much experience, but we try to guide them on how to approach the game. Apart from that, they have good talent and can win matches for the team. I will try to give the team a good start in the next match."
Our new boys don’t have much experience, but we try to guide them on how to approach the game. Apart from that, they have good talent and can win matches for the team. I will try to give the team a good start in the next match."
Abbottabad Region were simply better in every department. They bowled with discipline. They fielded sharply. And when it came time to chase, they did it with authority. A dominant win. A confident team. And with this 8-wicket triumph, Abbottabad Region march into the semi-finals of the National T20 Cup 2026. Momentum secured. Knockouts await.
Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentator, Deepak Prakash, and scorer Danish Elahi. That’s it from our side. Thanks for joining. But there is one more match scheduled in the Pakistan National T20 Cup. So, switch tabs and follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!!!!
Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentator, Deepak Prakash, and scorer Danish Elahi. That’s it from our side. Thanks for joining. But there is one more match scheduled in the Pakistan National T20 Cup. So, switch tabs and follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!!!!