RAWALPINDI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa kept their perfect record and finished the Rawalpindi leg on a high note as they overpowered Balochistan by 27 runs here at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded the first 200-plus score of the tournament courtesy of blistering knocks by Aamer Azmat (22) and Mohammad Sarwar (38) in the last three overs which helped them to post 201 on the scoreboard at the end of 20th over.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s perfect title defence continued, as Sarwar smashed three sixes and four boundaries to lift Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to 201 for five after captain Khalid Usman won the toss and elected to bat first. Aamer and Sarwar added 49 runs in the last 19 balls.

Farhan and Kamran Ghulam set the platform for a big score, despite losing opener Mohammad Haris in the first over, with an 84-run second wicket stand. Farhan struck seven fours and Kamran’s destructive half-century included four maximums and as many fours.

When it came to defending the towering target, pacers Mohammad Imran and Imran Khan Senior provided their side regular breakthroughs as Balochistan were bowled out for 174 with seven balls to spare.

Mohammad Imran finished with the figures of four for 28 and Imran Khan Senior returned two for 29. Sarwar was effective with the ball too as he send Mohammad Haris (39) and captain Yasir Shah (44) back to pavilion, however, he was a touch expensive leaking 43 runs in four overs.

All-rounder Hussain Talat and Kashif Bhatti made 24 each, respectively. Balochistan never fully recovered from the top order collapse with Asad Shafiq, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai and Haseebullah falling inside 14 balls.

In the second match of the day, openers did the trick in Sindh’s six-wicket victory over Southern Punjab as Saim Ayub (56) and Sharjeel Khan (49) scored 83 runs for first wicket in the first seven overs while chasing 176.

This was Sindh’s third win of the event which helped them climb over Balochistan in the second position.

Left-handed Saim struck seven fours and two sixes while destructive Sharjeel Khan, who missed out on his half-century by a run, smashed four fours and four sixes.

Omair Bin Yousuf’s (54) ensured Sindh retained the momentum and overhauled the 176-run target with four balls to spare.

Southern Punjab, after being asked to bat, made 175 for six at the back of 48 each from opener Zain Abbas and all-rounder Hassan Khan. While Zain’s 48 took 34 balls and included five fours and a six, Hassan stroked his unbeaten 48 in just 29 balls and smashed two sixes and as many fours.

Mohammad Ilyas, once again, displayed his power-hitting abilities, smashing two sixes and two fours in his 11-ball cameo, scoring 25 runs.

The action will now move to Multan from Sept 10. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the winners of the last two editions, sit comfortably at the top of the points table with 10 points followed by Sindh and Balochistan with six points.

Northern and Southern Punjab are fourth and fifth, respectively. Central Punjab, who could manage to win only one game in five matches, sits at the bottom.

Scores in brief:

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA: 201-5 in 20 overs (Kamran Ghulam 57, Sahibzada Farhan 48, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 38 not out, Aamer Azmat 22 not out; Haris Sohail 2-10, Kashif Bhatti 2-25) BALOCHISTAN: 174 all out in 18.5 overs (Yasir Shah 44, Haris Sohail 39, Kashif Bhatti 24, Hussain Talat 24; Mohammad Imran 4-28, Imran Khan Snr 2-29).

SOUTHERN PUNJAB: 175-6 in 20 overs (Hassan Khan 48 not out, Zain Abbas 48, Mohammad Ilyas 25 not out, Sharoon Siraj 23; Abrar Ahmed 3-30) SINDH: 181-4 in 19.2 overs (Saim Ayub 56, Omair Bin Yousuf 54 not out, Sharjeel Khan 49; Hassan Khan 2-21).

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2022