LAHORE: Skipper Mohammad Imran led from the front as Bahawalpur defeated Karachi Blues by 59 runs in the National T20 Cup Qualifier final here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday night.

Imran’s 80-run knock saw Bahawalpur post 172-5 before Ali Shabbir’s three wickets helped skittle the Karachi out for 113.

Both teams, however, secured qualification to the 10-team National T20 Cup event after topping their respective pools.

Imran came in to bat with Bahawalpur struggling with only 45 runs on the board by the halfway stage and launched an onslaught that saw the side bludgeon 127 runs in the second half of the innings.

Imran first stitched a 45-run stand with Mohammad Ammar (30 off 36, two fours and a six) before going out all guns blazing in a 37-ball 82-run partnership with Faizan Zafar (35 off 15, two fours and three sixes).

The Bahawalpur skipper laid the foundation of his team’s triumph with five fours and six sixes.

In turn, Karachi Blues scrambled to 93-3 by the start of the 13th over before a spectacular batting collapse set in as they lost seven for 20. Bahawalpur pacer Ali picked three of these wickets as he gave away 21 runs in his four overs.

For Karachi Blues, seasoned campaigner Ahsan Ali could cross the 20-run mark as he hit a threating 29-ball 43 with the help of three fours and as many sixes. Bahawalpur’s trio of Mohammad Umair, Mohammad Junaid and Mohammad Basit picked up two wickets each.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2026