LAHORE: Day three of the National T20 Cup Qualifier at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, saw Karachi Region Blues and Islamabad Region strengthen their chances of advancing from Group A with hard-fought victories over Larkana Region and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Region, respectively.
Both sides now sit in strong positions with two matches left, knowing only the group leader will qualify for the final and the main round. In the opening game, Karachi Blues restricted Larkana to 160/7 despite a late surge. Larkana skipper Zahid Mehmood (48 not out) and Muhammad Huzaifa (31) stitched a 75-run stand for the sixth wicket, while Mushtaq Ahmed’s cameo (15 off 6) lifted the total. Earlier, opener Malhar Rasool (41 off 25) was the only top-order batter to make an impression before Wahaj Riaz (3-14) struck crucial blows. In reply, Karachi’s chase was anchored by Ahsan Ali (65 off 38) and Muhammad Taha (38 off 28). Despite a mid-innings wobble, wicketkeeper Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (19 not out) held his nerve, striking a boundary off the final ball to seal a thrilling win.
The second match featured a high-scoring contest as AJK posted 187/5, powered by opener Hasnain Shamir (69 off 49) and Husnain Nadeem (46 off 29). Their 90-run opening stand set the tone, with late fireworks from Arslan Mahzood (12 not out) and Aqib Liaqat (18 off 5). Islamabad’s chase was aggressive from the outset, racing to 74/2 in the powerplay. The standout was Naseerullah, who smashed the fastest half-century of the tournament, scoring 55 off 30 balls with four sixes. He shared a 90-run partnership with skipper Mohammed Umair Riaz (35), while Shahbaz Khan’s quickfire 25 off 9 ensured Islamabad crossed the line in 18.5 overs with five wickets in hand. With these results, Karachi Blues and Islamabad have now positioned themselves as frontrunners in Group A. ation race finely poised as the tournament heads into its decisive phase.
