KARACHI: Sindh blind cricket team edged past Balochistan blind team by two wickets in a thrilling final to win the 3rd PPL Blind Cricket Super League 2020 here at the PAF Faisal Base on Saturday.
Balochistan won the toss and opted to bat first. Badar Muneer and Ayoub Khan opened the innings and Balochistan made a brisk start, scoring 67 in the first 6 overs. But Sindh bowlers stuck to their task and didn’t allow Balochistan batsmen to play freely. However, Badar Munir being a world class player cut loose after the 25th over of the innings and took calculated risks to score a masterly 222 off 125 balls with the help of 31 boundaries. That propelled Balochistan to a total of 389 for the loss of 8 wickets in allotted 40 overs. Ayoub Khan supported Badar by scoring 30. For Sindh Saqib and Naeemullah took 2 wickets each.
In reply, Sindh started the chase swiftly, Nisar Ali and Sanaullah made good use of early overs and fielding restriction and played freely. Till the 13th over, the game looked like going in favour of Sindh but a couple of tight overs changed things and the pace of scoring slowed down. From then on Sindh wickets fell at regular intervals although Nisar Ali made 90 off 57 balls and Gulsher was shaping up[ for a big knock.
However, the match looked set for a tantalising finish at one stage when Sindh required 22 in the last two overs and nine runs in the last over with just 2 wickets in hand and Balochistan was right in the hunt. But brilliant Gulsher, the young rising star, took his team to victory, scoring 81 off just 50 balls with11 boundaries while Naemullah partnered him well and remained unbeaten on 52 off 46 balls.
Shafiullah took three wickets while Sajid calimed two wickets. Gulsher was named Man of the Match.
Khalid Raza, Deputy Managing Director, Pakistan Petroleum Ltd., Air Vice Marshal Abbas Ghuman, (SI (M), T Bt.) AOC Sothern Air Command, Syed Sultan Shah, Chairman Pakistan Blind Cricket Council, Air Commodor Aftab Alam, Base Commander PAF Base Faisal were the guests of honour on the occasion and distributed prizes amongst the players.
Player of the Tournament were Shafiullah (B1, Balochistan), Badar Muneer (B2, Balochistan). Tahir Ali (B2, KPK) while Naseebllah (Punjab) was named the best wicketkeeper.
Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2020