131/4 (17.5)
CR : 7.35
130/5 (20.0)
CR : 6.50
Abbottabad Region won by 6 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Kamran Ghulam
0/1758(41)
ABT won by 6 wickets
10:57 PM IST and 10:27 PM Local Time | Abbottabad Region have advanced to the semi-final of the National T20 Cup 2025 beating Lahore Whites by 6 wickets and with 13 balls to go. They have done better at some areas and the Whites eventually fell flat in this contest.
Lahore Whites were sent to bat first after losing the toss and they lost Mohammad Saleem in the first ball of the innings. In-form batter Mohammad Faiq also got out cheaply for 4. Mohammad Akhlaq then led the batting. He played a captain's knock despite the wickets tumbling at the other end. Zain Bin Farooq, Mohammad Mohsin struggled but Akhlaq scored a fine fifty. He got out on 59 off 49 balls with 7 fours and a maximum. Lahore Whites had a boundary draught for 59 balls as the Abbottabad spinners were immaculate with their line and length. Kamran Afzal played a fine cameo off 25 runs facing 14 balls in the death overs hitting 3 fours and a maximum to take the score to 130.
Khalid Usman took a couple of wickets. Shahab Khan and skipper Yasir Shah picked up a wicket each.
Sajjad Ali who is known for his big hitting abilities was sent to open the innings in the run chase. He struggled a bit but found two boundaries and scored 9 runs off 8 balls. Shahzaib Khan and Kamran Ghulam then took the onus. They played very watchfully right from the start and boarded 54 runs in their partnership from 53 balls. Shahzaib played a lot of dot balls but his 28 runs off 33 played a good second fiddle to Kamran Ghulam. Ghulam accelerated a bit late but his innings was a very effective one.
When Shahzaib and Khayam Khan got out in quick successions, Ghulam and Afaq were the guys to step up. They hit boundaries whenever they faced loose balls. Ghulam completed his 10th T20 fifty and remained unbeaten on 58 off 41 balls with 6 fours and 2 maximums. Afaq Khan scored an extremely important 31 off 21 balls. Their partnership made the chase easier for Lahore Whites and they got home.
For the Lahore Whites, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Salman, Kamran Afzal and Mohammad Faiq took a wicket apiece.
Lahore Whites were sent to bat first after losing the toss and they lost Mohammad Saleem in the first ball of the innings. In-form batter Mohammad Faiq also got out cheaply for 4. Mohammad Akhlaq then led the batting. He played a captain's knock despite the wickets tumbling at the other end. Zain Bin Farooq, Mohammad Mohsin struggled but Akhlaq scored a fine fifty. He got out on 59 off 49 balls with 7 fours and a maximum. Lahore Whites had a boundary draught for 59 balls as the Abbottabad spinners were immaculate with their line and length. Kamran Afzal played a fine cameo off 25 runs facing 14 balls in the death overs hitting 3 fours and a maximum to take the score to 130.
Khalid Usman took a couple of wickets. Shahab Khan and skipper Yasir Shah picked up a wicket each.
Sajjad Ali who is known for his big hitting abilities was sent to open the innings in the run chase. He struggled a bit but found two boundaries and scored 9 runs off 8 balls. Shahzaib Khan and Kamran Ghulam then took the onus. They played very watchfully right from the start and boarded 54 runs in their partnership from 53 balls. Shahzaib played a lot of dot balls but his 28 runs off 33 played a good second fiddle to Kamran Ghulam. Ghulam accelerated a bit late but his innings was a very effective one.
When Shahzaib and Khayam Khan got out in quick successions, Ghulam and Afaq were the guys to step up. They hit boundaries whenever they faced loose balls. Ghulam completed his 10th T20 fifty and remained unbeaten on 58 off 41 balls with 6 fours and 2 maximums. Afaq Khan scored an extremely important 31 off 21 balls. Their partnership made the chase easier for Lahore Whites and they got home.
For the Lahore Whites, Ubaid Shah, Mohammad Salman, Kamran Afzal and Mohammad Faiq took a wicket apiece.
Time for the post-match presentation!
Player of the Match: Kamran Ghulam
Kamran Ghulam (POTM): "Thanks to the almighty! It's a great test for a team when they get to play a match like this. I knew what lengths to bowl on this track, I even told my coaches about it before the last match.
The captain and the management showed confidence in me as I was asked to bowl my entire quote of four overs. You know, there was break and turn on this pitch, so it was just about using your variations. I was continuously assessing what the batters were trying to do, that was my mantra with the ball.
My job with the bat has been simple - just to take it deep and finish off the games. Fortunately, I have been not out on three out of four occasions. I am high on confidence as I got to finish it in this game as well."
The captain and the management showed confidence in me as I was asked to bowl my entire quote of four overs. You know, there was break and turn on this pitch, so it was just about using your variations. I was continuously assessing what the batters were trying to do, that was my mantra with the ball.
My job with the bat has been simple - just to take it deep and finish off the games. Fortunately, I have been not out on three out of four occasions. I am high on confidence as I got to finish it in this game as well."
Akhlaq Ahmed (Lahore Whites Captain): "Our plan was to trust our batters. Pacers and spinners both were doing well. So we wanted to bank upon them.
Yes there are a few pressure games. You have to do a lot of things right in this game. We did falter in the fielding but this is a part of the game. We will look to do well in the remaining matches of the season."
Yes there are a few pressure games. You have to do a lot of things right in this game. We did falter in the fielding but this is a part of the game. We will look to do well in the remaining matches of the season."
Yasir Shah (Abbottabad Region Captain): "We always wanted to bowl first. Our thinking was positive, hence; the result is positive. In the last game as well, despite losing two wickets early, we went to chase it with ease. We are good chasers I reckon.
The wicket here is assisting the spinners. And you see, the target of 130-131 runs was never too big, and that's why our batters never got nervous. Karman Ghulam is a big name and he has been performing for us for sometime now. He is a stalwart in domestic cricket.
We will look to put an even stronger performance in the semifinal."
The wicket here is assisting the spinners. And you see, the target of 130-131 runs was never too big, and that's why our batters never got nervous. Karman Ghulam is a big name and he has been performing for us for sometime now. He is a stalwart in domestic cricket.
We will look to put an even stronger performance in the semifinal."
That marks the end of our coverage from the first qualifier of the National T20 cup between Lahore Whites and Abbottabad Region. Abbottabad Region have emerged out victorious by 6 wickets and have advanced to the semi-final.
For now, this is the troika of Saptak Sanyal, Arjun Bhalla and Raju Khariya signing off. Don't go anywhere. We have another quarter final waiting for you. Karachi Whites and Multan Region will fight for another spot in the semi-final of the tournament. Good night from us.
For now, this is the troika of Saptak Sanyal, Arjun Bhalla and Raju Khariya signing off. Don't go anywhere. We have another quarter final waiting for you. Karachi Whites and Multan Region will fight for another spot in the semi-final of the tournament. Good night from us.