239/10 (49.4)
CR : 4.81
245/10 (49.3)
CR : 4.95
Pakistan Whites won by 6 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Mohammad Wasim Jnr
5/4621(25)
Shahzaib was then joined by Usman Khan, and the duo went on with the rebuild. The boundaries came along every once in a while; the Whites crossed the 100-run mark, and Shahzaib got to his second half-century in as many games. But then, the Whites' innings began to unravel - they went from 117 for two to 157 for six between overs 23-30, most of the batters falling to rash shots. A steady 7th-wicket partnership between Saad Masood and Haris Rauf - promoted to number 8 - saw the Whites go past 200. With two overs remaining, the Whites were looking good to get past 250, but Masood's chaotic run out in the penultimate over extinguished those chances.
For the third consecutive game in this tournament, we saw a team fail to build on a decent start after batting first. Shahzaib Khan and Saim Ayub started cautiously but steadily for the Whites after Sahibzada Farhan won the toss and put them in to bat. They were really circumspect with the running owing to the run-out incident two days ago. With two left-handers off to a decent start, Sahibzada Farhan turned to Mohammad Faiq's off-spin in the powerplay, and the move paid off. Faiq delivered two breakthroughs in quick succession, knocking over Saim Ayub and going past Mohsin Riaz's aimless charge down the wicket and hack across the line.
12:06 AM IST, 11:36 PM Local Time: Just the kind of game this tournament needed. Pakistan Whites' middle order was thoroughly tested today, and they failed to live up to the task. Fast bowlers ruled the roost - Shahnawaz Dahani, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Wasim Jnr have taken all ten wickets between them. They have a very well-oiled fast-bowling unit, and they truly lived up to their reputation tonight, making great use of the skiddiness and bounce off this Multan wicket under lights.
12:15 AM IST and 11:45 PM Local Time: Time for the post-match presentations.
Player of the Match: Mohammad Wasim Jnr
Mohammad Wasim Jnr (Player of the Match): "(Were you confident of defending the total?) Thanks to the almighty. The way we won the match, it feels really good.
(When did you think that you as a team can make a comeback?) The nature of the wicket was very slow. Balls were not coming well onto the bat, so we tried to drag the lengths back.
(On his first fifer in List A cricket) I am very happy. I can not explain it in words."
(When did you think that you as a team can make a comeback?) The nature of the wicket was very slow. Balls were not coming well onto the bat, so we tried to drag the lengths back.
(On his first fifer in List A cricket) I am very happy. I can not explain it in words."
Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan Blues Captain): "(What went wrong for you?) I think the way our played back to back games, and we bowled first in both the games, credit goes to the boys for keeping the target low. It could have been chased. Those getting fifties should have taken the game deep.
(Do you talk with your batters regarding taking the game deep?) Yes of course. We have gone through this. Getting dismissed after completing the fifty is wrong for team as well as the player. So finishing the match is tournament.
(Next game is going to be important. Any message for the team?) I think I am happy with the bowling. We have to do better in batting. We will get some rest tomorrow and will come back fresh for the next game."
(Do you talk with your batters regarding taking the game deep?) Yes of course. We have gone through this. Getting dismissed after completing the fifty is wrong for team as well as the player. So finishing the match is tournament.
(Next game is going to be important. Any message for the team?) I think I am happy with the bowling. We have to do better in batting. We will get some rest tomorrow and will come back fresh for the next game."
Saim Ayub (Pakistan Whites captain): "(Was the comeback in batting satisfying or in the bowling?) The most satisfying was the fighting spirit on show from our team. I won't specify about batting, bowling and fielding. We came back in the first game as well, but couldn't win. We saw where the match headed upon showing fighting spirit. That is a big inspiration for us.
(On whether the lower-order partnerships gave them an edge) Of course. We were wanting to fight and get to a fighting score. Credit goes to the bowling unit after that, they bowled really well.
(On whose spell he liked the most) It would be unfair to single anyone out of these bowlers, I'd like to give all of them credit - all of them did well. The fielders backed them up really well too, so it was a team effort.
(On the confidence this win will bring them) Everyone's a leader in our team, everyone works together."
(On whether the lower-order partnerships gave them an edge) Of course. We were wanting to fight and get to a fighting score. Credit goes to the bowling unit after that, they bowled really well.
(On whose spell he liked the most) It would be unfair to single anyone out of these bowlers, I'd like to give all of them credit - all of them did well. The fielders backed them up really well too, so it was a team effort.
(On the confidence this win will bring them) Everyone's a leader in our team, everyone works together."
12:26 AM IST, 11:56 PM Local Time: A come-from-behind win for the Pakistan Whites keeps them in contention for the final. Both sides will have a break of at least one day as Pakistan Gold, under pressure to win and stay alive in the tournament, go up against Pakistan Greens at the Multan Cricket Stadium tomorrow. Join us right here on Crickxo at 2:30 PM IST (2:00 PM Local Time) for our coverage of the game, and keep following us for a whole lot more!
That's all for now. This is Rajarshi Das, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator, Saptak Sanyal and scorer/analyst Sachin Yadav. Good night!