ISLAMABAD: Faisalabad broke local hearts as Peshawar were knocked out of contention for a place in the knockouts of the BS Developers National T20 Cup 2026 at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on Friday.
Set to score 171 for a win, Peshawar were bowled out for 155, leaving Irfan Khan Niazi’s Faisalabad team victorious by 15 runs. Afaq Khan Afridi (4-38) and Shahzad Gul (3-21) bowled brilliantly to see the star-studded Peshawar team falling well behind the target. Israrullah (47) and Nabi Gul (43) revived Peshawar’s hopes for a brief period. However, once they departed, Peshawar lost one after another wicket, getting bowled out for 155.
Earlier, Atiq-ur-Rehman (72) once again played a brilliant knock to see Faisalabad reach 170 for 9 while batting first. He struck ten fours in his innings. Atiq was supported well by Irfan Khan (32) and Mubasir (27). For Peshawar Usman Tariq (2-20) and Mohammad Nawaz (2-23) bowled well.
In the second game of Thursday night, Multan defeated Karachi Blues by 74 runs while defending their total of 201-6. After being asked to bat, skipper Imam-ul-Haq led from the front with a 40-ball 71, which included nine fours and two sixes. Imam also shared a 70-run opening stand off 38 balls with Mohammad Naeem, who scored 39 off 25 deliveries, hitting seven fours and one six.
Wicketkeeper-batter Bismillah Khan (34, 23b, 2x4s, 1x6) added 70 runs for the third wicket with Imam, before Karachi Blues struck thrice in 16th, 17th and 18th over as Multan found themselves168-5 in 17.3 overs.
Waseem Akram Jnr chipped in with a late cameo of 22 not out off eight deliveries, hitting three fours and one six. For Karachi Blues, Shahnawaz Dahani picked up two for 39 in four overs.
In reply, Karachi Blues were bundled out for 127 in 15.4 overs. Mohammad Ismail led the bowling charge with figures of 3-0-25-3, while Arafat Minhas chipped in with two wickets for 25 runs in 2.4 overs. Usman Khan and Mehran Mumtaz (19, 10b, 2x4s) provided the only resistance of note, putting together a 48-run partnership after Karachi Blues had slipped to 56 for five in 7.4 overs.
Usman struck 43 off 24 deliveries, hitting four fours and two sixes. He also collected two sixes off the first two balls of the 12th over bowled by Moheer Saeed, before falling on the third delivery.
Score:
Match 12: Multan Region beat Karachi Region Blues by 74 runs at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar
Multan 201-6, 20 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 71, Mohammad Naeem 39, Bismillah Khan 34, Waseem Akram Jnr 22 not out; Shahnawaz Dahani 2-39).
