Karachi, Islamabad bag wins in National T20 Cup Qualifier

2026-02-15 - 10:36

Karachi Blues and Islamabad secured wins over Quetta and Larkana, respectively, on the first day of the National T20 Cup Qualifier at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. In the first game of the day, Karachi Blues won the toss and put Quetta in to bat first. Top-scorer Haseebullah (50 not out) and opening batter Syed Jahangir Shah (39) shared a 49-run partnership for the second wicket to lift their side to a fighting 146-5. For Karachi Blues, Mohammad Fahad Ameen picked up two wickets, while Wahaj Riaz, Zeeshan Zameer, and Mohammad Raza Chandio each bagged one wicket. In response, Karachi Blues slipped to 62-4 after being 43-1. Mohammad Taha stuck around for a handy 43 off 29 balls, including seven fours and one six. Player of the match Muhammad Usman Raheem top-scored with an unbeaten 55 off 40 balls, hitting seven fours and one six. Blues, who needed 18 off the last two overs, were aided by Raza Chandio’s cameo of 11 off four balls, featuring one four and one six, sealing the victory with four balls and as many wickets remaining. In the second game, Larkana won the toss and put Islamabad in to bat first, who lost opening batter Ali Imran early. Raja Hamza Waheed (40) then shared a 67-run alliance with skipper Muhammad Umair Riaz, who top-scored with an unbeaten 73 off 50 balls, hitting eight fours and one six. Umair also shared an unbeaten 115-run partnership with Rizwan Ali, who also contributed a quick-fire 68 not out off 36 balls, aided by nine fours and one six as Islamabad posted 207-3 in their 20 overs. In reply, Larkana started swiftly, fetching 20 runs off the first two overs. However, their advance was cut short as Umair Afridi removed opening batter Aqeel Danish (3). Top-scorer Malhar Rasool contributed 56 off 40 balls, striking four fours and three sixes, but his effort went in vain as only two other batters reached double figures and Larkana were bowled out for 129 in 17.4 overs, falling 78 runs short. Rain threat looms as Pakistan set to take on India in T20 World Cup match