KARACHI: Tayyab Tahir’s rapid half-century and a three-wicket haul by fast bowler Ali Shafiq helped Central Punjab beat defending champions Balochistan by 50 runs in the Pakistan Cup final here at the State Bank of Pakistan Sports Complex on Monday.

Defending 255, Central Punjab fought back to claim the last five Balochistan wickets for 55 runs to dismiss the defending champions for 204 in 42.3 overs. Ali destroyed Balochistan’s middle-order by dismissing Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (four), Asad Shafiq (zero) and Haris Sohail (eight) to finish with impressive figures of three wickets for 17 runs in seven overs.

Ali was well supported by fellow pacer Mohammad Ali, who came back strongly in his final spell to claim the wickets of Bismillah Khan and Yasir Shah to end with figures of 2-31 while left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar snapped up the wickets of Imran Butt (30) and Amad Butt (seven).

Bismillah fought a lone battle for Balochistan and finished as the top-scorer (70 off 77 balls). His innings was studded with eight fours. Together with Mohammad Junaid (27), Bismillah put on 65 runs for the sixth wicket after Balochistan had slipped from 62 for no loss to 84 for five.

Earlier after electing to bat first, Central Punjab failed to fully capitalise on a 61-run start provided openers Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Faizan to be dismissed for 254 in 48.2 overs. They last eight wickets for 109 runs.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Junaid was the wrecker-in-chief when he picked up the wickets of Ahmed, Qasim Akram, Zafar Gohar, Usama Mir and Mohammad Ali to finish with impressive figures of 5-56.

Faizan scored a 33-ball 37 laced with three fours and two sixes before falling to Kashif Bhatti, who dismissed Junaid Ali (one) to finish with figures of 2-36.

At 65 for two in 13.1 overs, Ahmed was joined by top-scorer Tayyab and they put on 80 runs for the third wicket before Junaid dismissed Ahmed and Qasim off successive deliveries to reduce Central Punjab to 145-4 in 27.5 overs. Ahmed faced 87 balls and struck three fours and a six.

Player-of-the-match Tayyab, in association with Zafar Gohar (30), then carried the score to 195 before his run-out in the 37th over derailed Central Punjab’s progression as the last five wickets tumbled for 59 runs in 71 balls thanks to a 31-ball 34 (two fours, one six) by captain Aamer Yamin.

Victorious Central Punjab squad received a winners cheque of Rs5 million whereas Balochistan got a cash award of Rs2.5 million.

Balochistan’s Amad Butt (365 runs, 19 wickets) was declared player of the Pakistan Cup while Tayyab (573 runs) received the best batter of the Pakistan Cup award. The best bowler award was claimed by Central Punjab’s Usama Mir (28 wickets) and Balochistan’s Haseebullah (551 runs; 10 dismissals, eight catches and two stumpings) earned the best wicket-keeper prize.

SCOREBOARD

CENTRAL PUNJAB;

Muhammad Faizan c Imran b Kashif 37

Ahmed Shehzad lbw b Junaid 61

Junaid Ali b Kashif Bhatti 1

Tayyab Tahir run out 71

Qasim Akram b Mohammad Junaid 0

Zafar Gohar c Asad b Junaid 30

Irfan Khan lbw b Yasir 3

Aamer Yamin c Bangalzai b Amad 34

Usama Mir c Imran b Junaid 3

Mohammad Ali lbw b Junaid 6

Ali Shafiq not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-5) 7 TOTAL (all out, 48.2 overs) 254 FALL OF WICKETS: 1-61, 2-65, 3-145, 4-145, 5-195, 6-202, 7-217, 8-226, 9-238, 10-254

BOWLING: Khurram 7-0-43-0 (1w), Amad 7.2-1-47-1 (2w), Kashif 10-0-36-2 (1w), Yasir 10-0-49-1 (1w), Junaid 10-0-56-5, Haris 4-0-21-0

BALOCHISTAN:

Haseebullah Khan b Qasim 27

Imran Butt lbw b Zafar 30

Abdul Bangalzai b Ali 4

Asad Shafiq lbw b Ali 0

Haris Sohail c Usama b Ali 8

Bismillah Khan b M. Ali 70

Mohammad Junaid b Aamer 27

Amad Butt c Tayyab b Zafar 7

Yasir Shah b M. Ali 1

Kashif Bhatti b Usama 14

Khurram Shahzad not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-11) 16 TOTAL (all out, 42.3 overs) 204

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-62, 2-71, 3-71, 4-80, 5-84, 6-149, 7-174, 8-189, 9-192, 10-204

BOWLING: Aamer 6-0-34-1 (3w), M. Ali 6-1-31-2(7w), Qasim 8-0-37-1 (1w), Ali 7-2-17-3, Zafar 9-0-32-2, Usama 6.3-0-48-1.

RESULT: Central Punjab won by 50 runs.

*Published in Dawn, january 3th, 2023