KARACHI: Discarded international Anwar Ali produced a stunning late assault as Balochistan pulled off an incredible four-wicket win over inaugural Pakistan Cup champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the sixth match of the third edition at the Iqbal Stadium on Monday.

Left with a massive 373-run chase and seemingly down and out when Rameez Raja was dismissed at 298-6 in 44.2 overs, Balochistan completed a remarkable coup as Anwar bludgeoned five huge sixes and as many fours in an 18-ball cameo of 58 and together with young Khushdil Shah (64 off 51 balls, three sixes and three fours) put on 70 in just 29 deliveries to leave Mohammad Hafeez’s men in a state of total disbelief with this being their second defeat in three matches.

Balochistan, who lost to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 2016 final, finally had something to smile about after starting the competition with two straight losses.

After Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had amassed 372-8, Balochistan overcame the early departure of in-form opener Bismillah Khan through a belligerent Ahmed Shehzad innings but their hopes evaporated when was run out for a blistering 72 from just 36 deliveries.

The Balochistan skipper was understandably livid at his batting partner Rizwan Hussain for failing to call correctly since Shehzad had scampered down the pitch far enough for paceman Mohammad Irfan Jr to break the stumps at the non-striker end after stopping a drive from Rizwan.

Until that moment of madness, Shehzad was looking in wonderful nick as he stroked 14 boundaries. Incoming batsman, Mohammad Nawaz, also perished not long after to put Khyber Pakhtunkhwa right on top. The all-rounder

The left-handed Rizwan tried to break the shackles but his inexperience finally got the better of him as the 22-year-old was bowled in the 26th over by Hammad Azam for a 71-ball 67 that included five fours and one six.

Former international Rameez Raja crossed 50 (64 off 70 balls, six fours) before he was out to a spectacular catch on the fence when Mohammad Irfan Jr pulled back the ball going over the fence to relay it to Hafeez inside the midwicket boundary.

Earlier, Khurram continued his red-hot form with yet another substantial contribution after Hafeez chose to bat first. Khurram and Shan Masood, who had together plummeted the Punjab bowling to the tune of 298 runs without being separated on Saturday night, added only 98 this time.

Shan followed his even 100 against Punjab with a 45-ball effort of 50 as the tall left-hander slammed 10 fours. Israrullah (run-a-ball 40, four fours and one six) then joined Khurram in a second-wicket partnership of 104.

By the time Israrullah fell to Nawaz, Khurram had already recorded his 23rd one-day century. The Pakistan discard was also dismissed by Nawaz after having hit 16 boundaries in his 99-ball knock of 111.

Hafeez hoisted three sixes in scoring 32 off 24 balls before providing Nawaz his third wicket via a well-judged return catch and after Umar Akmal fell cheaply, Hammad (44 off 28 balls, four fours and two sixes) and young Hassaan Khan, who made a career-best 51 not out with his 29-ball innings featuring six fours and one six, put on 56.

Mohammad Irfan Sr (22) then assisted Hassaan in another useful stand of 52 in only 36 balls.

Scoreboard

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA:

Khurram Manzoor c Anwar b Nawaz 111
Shan Masood c Bismillah b Irfan 50
Israrullah c Rameez b Nawaz 40
Mohammad Hafeez c and b Nawaz 32
Umar Akmal c Bismillah b Sohail 11
Hammad Azam b Shaheen 44
Hassaan Khan not out 51
M. Irfan Sr c Nawaz b Umar 22
Mohammad Irfan Jr lbw b Umar 0

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, W-4, NB-2) 11
TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 372
FALL OF WKTS: 1-98, 2-203, 3-209, 4-247, 5-263, 6-319, 7-371, 8-372.
DID NOT BAT: Sadaf Hussain, Zia-ul-Haq.
BOWLING: Sohail Tanvir 10-1-48-1 (1nb, 3w); Umar Gul 8-0-67-2; Shaheen Shah Afridi 10-0-81-1 (1nb); Mohammad Nawaz 10-0-72-3; Mohammad Irfan 8-0-68-0; Anwar Ali 3-0-19-0; Khushdil Shah 1-0-12-0 (1w).

BALOCHISTAN:

Bismillah Khan c Khurram b Zia 10
Rizwan Hussain b Hammad 67
Ahmed Shehzad run out 72
M. Nawaz c Hafeez b Hassaan 12
Rameez Raja c Hafeez b Sadaf 64
Sohail Tanvir c Irfan Sr b Hammad 18
Khushdil Shah not out 64
Anwar Ali not out 58

EXTRAS (LB-3, W-10) 13
TOTAL (for six wkts, 49.1 overs) 378
FALL OF WKTS: 1-11, 2-105, 3-139, 4-185, 5-213, 6-298.
DID NOT BAT: Umar Gul, Mohammad Irfan, Shaheen Shah Afridi.
BOWLING: Sadaf Hussain 5-0-54-1;
Zia-ul-Haq 10-0-89-1 (2w);,Mohammad Irfan Jr 9.1-0-85-0 (2w); Mohammad Irfan Sr 9-0-56-0; Hammad Azam 10-0-44-2; Hassaan Khan 6-0-47-1 (2w).

RESULT: Balochistan won by four wickets.
UMPIRES: Ahsan Raza and Waleed Yaqub.
TV UMPIRE: Shozab Raza.
MATCH REFEREE: Mohammad Javed.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Anwar Ali.
TUESDAY’S FIXTURE: Punjab vs Federal Areas (2:30pm PST).

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2018