DARWIN: Perth Scorchers outclassed Pakistan Shaheens by 48 runs in the first semi-final of the Top End T20 Series at the Gardens in Darwin on Sunday, knocking the tourists out at the last-four stage for the second successive year.

Put in to bat, Scorchers posted 155 for eight in their 20 overs after being rattled by the Shaheen spinners in the middle passage. The Perth side slipped from a strong start to 99 for six, undone by the spin trio of Faisal Akram, Mehran Mumtaz and Saad Masood, before Nicholas Hobson and Matthew Kelly revived the innings with a 44-run seventh-wicket stand.

Hobson top-scored with a 43-ball 59, studded with seven fours and two sixes, while Kelly added a brisk 23 off 19 balls. Saad was the pick of the bowlers, returning three for 21, while Mehran and Mohammad Wasim Jnr claimed two wickets apiece. Faisal chipped in with one for 36.

The chase never got going for Shaheens, who were rocked early to 17 for three inside five overs. Khawaja Nafay (26 off 24) and skipper Mohammad Irfan Khan (17 off 15) briefly steadied the innings with a 38-run stand, but both departed in quick succession to leave the middle and lower order exposed. Wasim’s fighting 25 off 26 balls only delayed the inevitable as the Shaheens folded for 107 in 17.1 overs.

Keaton Critchell led the Scorchers’ attack with three for 13, while Kelly (2-8) and Bryce Jackson (2-14) shared four wickets between them.

The Shaheens, who had finished second on the 11-team table with four wins from six matches, thus bowed out at the semi-final stage once again, having lost to Adelaide Strikers at the same stage in last year’s edition.

Scores in brief:

PERTH SCORCHERS 155-8 in 20 overs (Nicholas Hobson 59, Teague Wills 29, Matthew Kelly 23; Saad Masood 3-21, Mehran Mumtaz 2-18, Mohammad Wasim Jr 2-35); PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 107 in 17.1 overs (Khawaja Nafay 26, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 25; Keaton Critchell 3-13, Matthew Kelly 2-8, Bryce Jackson 2-14).

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2025