PESHAWAR: A superb unbeaten 95 from Kamran Ghulam powered Abbottabad to a thrilling eight-wicket victory over Multan in the Nati­onal T20 Cup at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium on Sunday night.

Kamran’s match-winning knock, supported by a brisk 30 off 17 balls from Khushdil Shah, enabled Abbottabad to chase down a daunting 204-run target on the final delivery of the match.

Requiring 19 off the last over bowled by pacer Hasan Hafeez, Abbottabad managed two runs from the first two balls before Kamran smashed the third delivery for a six to bring the equation down to 11 off three balls.

Kamran then ran two doubles from the next two deliveries, leaving seven required off the final ball, with six needed to force a tie. He could only sky the waist-high full toss and the batters managed a single.

Abbottabad, however, were handed a lifeline when replays showed the delivery had been above Kamran’s waist, resulting in a no-ball and leaving five runs required from the extra delivery.

Khushdil sealed the drama­tic victory by pulling anot­her full toss over fine leg for a six.

Earlier in the chase, Abbottabad lost opener Sajjad Ali Hashmi (17) in the fifth over to Ali Majid with 45 runs on the board.

Shahzaib Khan then struck a 42-ball 52, hitting three fours and two sixes, and shared a 79-run stand for the second wicket with Kamran to take Abbottabad to 124 in 13.3 overs. Shahzaib fell soon after completing his half-century, leaving Abbottabad needing 80 off 38 balls.

Kamran and Khushdil then launched a counterattack, adding an unbeaten 81-run partnership to guide their side home. Kamran brought up his half-century off 26 balls and finished with five fours and seven sixes in his 48-ball knock.

Earlier, Multan had slipped to 16 for two inside 2.1 overs after losing openers Moham­mad Naeem and Imam-ul-Haq.

Debutant Moheer Saeed then steadied the innings with a commanding 76 off 41 balls, striking eight fours and four sixes, while Bismillah Khan contributed 45. The pair added 113 runs for the third wicket to lift Multan to 129 in 12.3 overs.

Bismillah later became the first of three wickets claimed by Shadab Khan as Multan slipped to 155-6.

A late unbeaten 54 off 26 balls by Muhammad Shahzad, featuring four fours and four sixes, lifted Multan to 203-6 in 20 overs, while Shadab retu­rned figures of 3-35.

In the second match, Karachi Blues successfully defended 201 by bowling Sialkot out for 161.

Opener Ahsan Ali struck a 27-ball 50, while Usman Khan top-scored with a powerful 81 off 39 balls. Usman also shared a crucial 88-run seventh-wicket stand with Jahandad Khan (30 off 16) to lift Karachi Blues to 201.

In reply, Sialkot slumped to 79-6 before skipper Usama Mir struck a fighting 63 off 31 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes.

However, pacer Khalil Ah­med removed key batters while claiming four wickets as Sialkot were dismissed for 161. Shahnawaz Dahani took two wickets, while left-arm spinner Mohammad Taha claimed three.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2026