Bahawalpur outplay Karachi in National T20 Cup Qualifier final

2026-02-24 - 18:53

Bahawalpur Region outplayed Karachi Region Blue by 59 runs in the final of the National T20 Cup Qualifier at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday night. After posting 172-5 in 20 overs on the back of an explosive 80-run knock by captain Muhammad Imran, Bahawalpur bowled out Karachi Blues for 113 in 16 overs. The two teams had already secured the qualification for the 10-team National T20 Cup 2026 after topping their respective pools. Karachi Blues had won four matches on the trot before succumbing to a loss in the final, while Bahawalpur ended the title-winning campaign with four successive wins after losing their first match against Rawalpindi. Bahawalpur were sluggish after opting to bat first as they scored only 45 runs off the first 10 overs of their innings. Imran walked in at no.5 and changed the complexion of the innings as the eventual winners racked up 127 runs off the last 10 overs. Imran first stitched a 45-run stand with Mohammad Ammar (30) before going out all guns blazing in a 37-ball 82-run partnership with Mohammad Faizan Zafar (35). Bahawalpur skipper laid the foundation of his team’s triumph with his career-best T20 score with the help of five fours and six sixes. Off-spinner Wahaj Riaz picked up two for 22 in his four overs to collect the best bowler and player of the tournament awards. In turn, Karachi Blues scrambled to 93-3 in 12.1 overs before a spectacular batting collapse set in as they lost seven for 20. Bahawalpur pacer Ali Shabbir picked three of these wickets as he gave away 21 runs in his four overs. For Karachi Blues, only the best batter of the tournament, Ahsan Ali, could cross the 20-run mark as he hit a threatening 29-ball 43 with the help of three fours and as many sixes. Bahawalpur’s trio of Mohammad Umair, Mohammad Junaid and Mohammad Basit picked up two wickets each. England beat Pakistan to reach T20 World Cup Semis