ISLAMABAD: Atiq-ur-Rehman’s 94 took Faisalabad Region to a comfortable six-wicket win against Bahawalpur in the Regional National T20 Championship at the Imran Khan Stadium, Peshawar, on Wednesday.
Faisalabad chased down the 159-run target with well over two overs to spare. Atiq held Faisalabad’s innings together, striking 15 fours and one six to take his team closer to the target. He then left it to Irfan Khan Niazi to hit a six and win the day for Faisalabad.
Bahawalpur fielders dropped a few chances, which, if accepted, could have taken them closer to winning. Earlier, Zaman Khan (3-30) bowled brilliantly to help his team bowl out Bahawalpur to 158 all out.
He was ably supported by left-arm Chinaman Momin Qamar 2 for 22. For Bahawalpur, Mohammad Faizan Zafar 36, Daniyal Hussain Rajput 25, were the leading scorers.
In the late Tuesday night match, Aamer Yamin and Arafat Minhas’ all-round performance handed Multan their first win of the tournament by a mere three runs against Lahore Region Blues. With rain falling and 11 needed off the last over, Aamer held his nerve brilliantly, conceding only two runs off the first two deliveries with a pair of pinpoint yorkers. An overthrow off the third ball brought three runs, leaving the batting side needing six off the remaining three deliveries.
Aamer then nailed two more yorkers, allowing just a single and reducing the equation to five needed off the final ball. Facing the last delivery, Shahid Aziz (10 not out, 9b) could only manage a hit to long-on for one, as Multan sealed a thrilling three-run win.
In pursuit of the target, Lahore Blues’ opening batter Umar Siddiq all but handed his side the victory before departing in the penultimate over after scoring a 51-ball 91 smashing 13 fours and three sixes. After Lahore slipped from 70 for no loss to 99-4, Umar also forged a threatening 79-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ali Razzaq, who hammered 45 off 26 balls, striking two fours and four sixes. Aamer got rid of Ali in the 18th over to bring his team back in the game.
Earlier, Imran Butt (20, 15b, 3x4s) combined with Umar to provide their team a head start with a brisk 70-run opening stand inside 5.2 overs. Arafat castled Saad Nasim and Qasim Akram to return figures of 4-0-23-2, while Sirajuddin also dismissed two batters. Moheer Saeed removed Umar in the penultimate over to give his team a sigh of relief.
Batting first, Multan managed to score 200-6 in 20 overs courtesy Muhammad Shahzad’s 54 off 40 including three fours and four sixes after he came in to bat at 49-3 in 6 overs. From 147-4 in 17 overs, Multan hit 53 off the last three overs to reach the total. Arafat Minhas (35, 17b, 2x4s, 2x6s) and Aamer’s (24 not out, 8b, 3x4s, 2x6s) late onslaught was aided by Waseem Akram Jnr’s cameo of an unbeaten 17 off seven, hitting three fours.
Bismillah Khan also chipped in with 27 off 23 balls. For Lahore Blues, Mohammad Rizwan bagged three for 39 in four overs.
Score:
Match 9: ABS Developers National T20 Cup 2026
Match 9: Faisalabad Region beat Bahawalpur Region by six wickets at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar Bahawalpur 158 all out, 19.5 overs (Mohammad Faizan Zafar 36, Daniyal Hussain Rajput 25, Mohammad Sarwar 22; Zaman Khan 3-30, Momin Qamar 2-22, Afaq Ahmad Afridi 2-40) Faisalabad 164-4, 17.5 overs (Atiq-ur-Rehman 94, Mohammad Awais Zafar 25: Mohammad Basit 3-23)
