MULTAN: Mohammad Wasim Jnr claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in competitive cricket as Pakistan Whites held their nerve to beat Pakistan Blues by six runs in a thrilling National Champions Cup contest at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.
Chasing 246, Blues appeared on course for victory at 198-6 in the 43rd over but lost three wickets for 19 runs before Hasan Ali and Akif Javed launched a late assault.
The pair added 22 for the 10th wicket and brought the equation down to 15 runs from the final over. Hasan struck two fours in the over to take his score to 29 off 28 balls, but Shahnawaz Dahani conceded just four runs and dismissed Hasan off the final delivery to seal the win.
Wasim was the pick of the Whites attack, finishing with 5-46. It was his first five-wicket haul in List-A cricket and the first five-for of his competitive career.
Dahani complemented him with 4-43 in 9.4 overs and reached 95 List-A wickets in his 55th match.
Earlier, Blues had appeared firmly in control after Maaz Sadaqat and Mohammad Faiq put on 99 for the second wicket. Maaz made 59 off 77 balls, while Faiq scored 54 off 64.
Their partnership took Blues from 30-1 to 129-1, but Wasim and Haris Rauf triggered a collapse. Blues lost five wickets for 29 runs to slip to 158-6.
Wasim removed Faiq before Haris dismissed Maaz, while Dahani accounted for Arafat Minhas and Rohail Nazir.
Blues recovered through Mohammad Irfan Khan, who scored 37 off 34 balls, and Ahmed Daniyal before Wasim returned to break the partnership. Irfan was bowled in the 43rd over before Wasim took two wickets in the 46th to complete his five-for.
Hasan then gave Whites a scare with his late hitting, but Dahani’s final over ensured Blues fell six runs short.
Earlier, Whites were restricted to 245 all out after Blues’ spinners took control in the middle overs.
Shahzaib Khan top-scored with 71 off 84 balls, registering his seventh List-A half-century, while Saad Masood made 35 and Usman Khan 29.
Mohammad Faiq, who was handed the new ball, claimed his best List-A figures of 3-36. He removed Saim Ayub for 22 and had Mohsin Riaz stumped before breaking a 73-run partnership between Shahzaib and Usman.
Shahzaib’s innings ended spectacularly when he hit Maaz Sadaqat towards long-off, where Arafat Minhas took a leaping catch near the boundary.
Maaz then had Khushdil Shah caught and bowled, while Arafat dismissed Hasan Nawaz to reduce Whites to 157-6.
Haris Rauf and Saad then added 53 from 65 balls to stabilise the innings. Haris made 27 off 34 balls and Saad 35 off 46.
Wasim contributed a valuable 21 off 25 balls before becoming the final wicket to fall.
Scores in brief:
PAKISTAN WHITES 245 in 49.3 overs (Shahzaib Khan 71, Saad Masood 35, Usman Khan 29, Haris Rauf 27, Saim Ayub 22, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 21; Mohammad Faiq 3-36, Maaz Sadaqat 2-12); PAKISTAN BLUES 239 in 49.4 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 59, Mohammad Faiq 54, Muhammad Irfan Khan 37, Hasan Ali 29; Mohammad Wasim Jnr 5-46, Shahnawaz Dahani 4-43).
Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2026