LAHORE: Captain Yasir Shah and emerging batter Abdul Wahid Bangalzai led Balochistan to a thumping win in the Pakistan Cup final against defending champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Friday.

It was the side’s maiden title since the inception of the new domestic structure in 2019 as they denied Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and National T20 Cup winners KP a treble.

Bangalzai, 19, smashed 80 off 77 balls (nine fours and two sixes) to help Balochistan over the line with 112 balls to spare after Yasir bagged four wickets to restrict KP to a paltry 171.

It was, however, another 19-year-old Haseebullah’s 45 off 58 (six fours), that set the platform for Bangalzai and Pakistan discard Asad Shafiq (21 off 33) to finish the job for Balochistan. The duo put up a 70-run unbeaten partnership for the third wicket.

Earlier, KP were kept from scoring freely and lost wickets in quick successions thanks to veteran Yasir’s 4-33 off his leg-spin.

The 35-year-old was assisted by pacer Khurram Shehzad, who took two wickets, including Ashfaq Ahmed’s first-over dismissal for naught.

It was only Kamran Ghulam who demonstrated some resistance on behalf of KP, with the right-hander hitting 70 off 91 balls (seven fours and a six) before the Khalid Usman-led side was bundled up with four overs to spare.

Summarised scores:

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA 171 all out in 46 overs (Kamran Ghulam 70; Yasir Shah 4-33, Akif Javed 2-35, Khurram Shahzad 2-36); BALOCHISTAN 175-2 in 31.2 overs (Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 80 not out, Haseebullah 45, Asad Shafiq 21 not out; Khalid Usman 2-47).

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2022