DARWIN: Shawaiz Irfan’s attacking half-century and a disciplined bowling performance led Pakistan Shaheens to a 43-run win over Melbourne Stars at the TIO Stadium in Darwin on Wednesday.

This was Shaheens’ third successive win in the Top End T20 Series.

Opting to bat first, Shaheens’ opening pair of Shamyl Hussain (25 off 16, five fours) and Shawaiz provided a solid 60-run start to the innings before left-handed Shamyl returned to the hut on the final ball of the fifth over.

After Shamyl’s departure, Shawaiz and captain Rohail Nazir added 50 runs for the second wicket. Shawaiz amassed 65 off 37 balls, studded with five fours and four sixes before he was dismissed.

Rohail (16 off 22) soon followed Shawaiz and fell to Arjun Nair in the 12th over. Wahaj Riaz (28 not out off 20, two fours and a six) and Ahmed Khan (19 off 16, one six) helped Shaheens post 169 for six in 20 overs.

For Stars, Nair and Reiley Mark bagged two wickets each.

In reply, Melbourne Stars were never in the hunt for the chase and managed to score 126 for eight in 17.1 overs as they fell 43 runs short of the target with Cam McClure and Campbell Kellaway unable to bat due to injury.

For Shaheens, left-arm spinner Faisal Akram took two wickets for 24. Aaliyan Mehmood, Arafat Minhas and Sajjad Ali snapped up a wicket each.

Scores in brief:

PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 169-6 in 20 overs (Shawaiz Irfan 65, Wahaj Riaz 28, Shamyl Hussain 25; Reiley Mark 2-23, Arjun Nair 2-28); MELBOURNE STARS 126-8 in 17.1 overs (Harry Dixon 32, Arjun Nair 31; Faisal Akram 2-24).

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2023