173/5 (28.0)
CR : 6.18
172/10 (41.4)
CR : 4.13
Pakistan Gold won by 5 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Shaheen Afridi
3/26
Could Pakistan Whites find a way back from there? They had to. And Hasan Nawaz decided to do the heavy lifting. Khushdil Shah joined him, but their partnership ended most strangely, with Khushdil run out for 12 off 23. At 65/5, Whites were staring straight down the barrel. Nawaz, however, found an ally in Saad Masood, and the pair added 45 runs for the sixth wicket. Masood made 20 off 21, while Nawaz kept the scoreboard moving. The partnership gave Whites breathing room. But Gold's bowlers never allowed them to breathe for too long.
So, how did the first innings begin? With Shaheen Afridi asking questions and Pakistan Whites struggling to find answers. Shahzaib Khan lasted only 13 balls for two, falling to Shaheen in the fifth over. Haseebullah Khan then walked back for just 3 off 18, leaving Whites at 26/2. Usman Khan followed for 3, and suddenly the top order had disappeared quicker than the patience on a slow Multan surface. Saim Ayub tried to repair the damage with a composed 30 off 39, including four boundaries. But Razaullah trapped him into another pull, and Whites slipped to 45/4. The early advantage was firmly with Gold.
9:40 PM IST, 9:10 PM Local Time: A team does not need a perfect start - they just need one perfect opportunity to turn the story around. Pakistan Gold found theirs. They came into this game almost out of the tournament, but a superb bowling display followed by a fearless chase changed everything. Pakistan Whites were bowled out for 172 in 41.4 overs, after being reduced to 65/5, but Hasan Nawaz's fighting 55 gave them something to defend. Gold, though, chased it down in just 28 overs, finishing on 176/5. They needed to get there inside 32.1 overs to overhaul the NRR equation. They did it with four overs and a ball to spare. And just like that, a team that looked down and out is heading to the final.
9:54 PM IST and 9:24 PM Local Time: Time for the post-match presentations.
Saim Ayub (Pakistan Whites Captain): "(Was there the belief that you could reach the final?) Yes it is a game of cricket. We have to accept that we did not bat well today and that is why we could not create the pressure.
(On Ali Raza's late introduction in the attack) I think we had three fast bowlers doing good in the start, we needed someone in the middle. The weather is such that, you have to keep one pacer ready. So we kept Ali Raza for that.
(Any player you have noticed?) It is a very high pressure tournament and everyone performed. I wish good luck to all the players and best wishes to the teams playing in the final.
(How was the fitness of your players?) There were no injuries. You can see the fast bowlers, teams are scoring big. I think the morale of fitness was good. It was a great tournament."
(On Ali Raza's late introduction in the attack) I think we had three fast bowlers doing good in the start, we needed someone in the middle. The weather is such that, you have to keep one pacer ready. So we kept Ali Raza for that.
(Any player you have noticed?) It is a very high pressure tournament and everyone performed. I wish good luck to all the players and best wishes to the teams playing in the final.
(How was the fitness of your players?) There were no injuries. You can see the fast bowlers, teams are scoring big. I think the morale of fitness was good. It was a great tournament."
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: SHAHEEN AFRIDI
Shaheen Afridi (Player of the Match and Pakistan Gold Captain): (On the opportunity to qualify and win the match) "We were trying because we got an opportunity to see how we could win the match. When you get an opportunity, obviously, you have to avail it. So, when we found out last night how we had to play the match, the same thing came up: we had to play for our pride, so we tried.
(On deciding to bowl first and the chase plan) We already had an idea that we had to chase it in at least 32-33 overs. We knew it would be tough in the heat, but we wanted to take a chance. Because if you lose a match and get an opportunity like this, obviously you should take that chance. The boys bowled with very good discipline, and then the way we finished the chase, the credit goes to them.
(On the message to the team before the game) I think we said the same thing this morning - when we started playing cricket, we started it for the love of the game, so don't turn it into a burden. The boys were quite good about that. Still, we play cricket for the love of it. If we enjoy it on the ground, despite the heat and everything, and play with passion, that's important.
(On his Player of the Match performance) Obviously, you have to take things on yourself. I was trying to create my good areas, give away as few runs as possible, and create pressure.
(On taking the same intensity into the final) I'll try to do more."
(On deciding to bowl first and the chase plan) We already had an idea that we had to chase it in at least 32-33 overs. We knew it would be tough in the heat, but we wanted to take a chance. Because if you lose a match and get an opportunity like this, obviously you should take that chance. The boys bowled with very good discipline, and then the way we finished the chase, the credit goes to them.
(On the message to the team before the game) I think we said the same thing this morning - when we started playing cricket, we started it for the love of the game, so don't turn it into a burden. The boys were quite good about that. Still, we play cricket for the love of it. If we enjoy it on the ground, despite the heat and everything, and play with passion, that's important.
(On his Player of the Match performance) Obviously, you have to take things on yourself. I was trying to create my good areas, give away as few runs as possible, and create pressure.
(On taking the same intensity into the final) I'll try to do more."
And where did Pakistan Gold arrive? In the final. Their victory means they leapfrog both Pakistan Whites and Pakistan Blues on net run rate and book their place in the title clash against Pakistan Greens on Tuesday, August 18, in Multan.
Shaheen's 3/26, Mubasir's 2/29, and Haider Ali's scintillating 69* were the headline acts. But the real story was collective. Gold bowled Whites out for 172, absorbed three early wickets in the chase, then finished the job before the clock could become an enemy. From almost eliminated to finalists. That is quite the comeback. The golden chance has become a Golden ticket.
Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentator, Saptak Sanyal, and scorer Zeeshan Naiyer. That’s it from our side. Thanks for joining. But cricket doesn’t sleep. Plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!!!!