Karachi Whites secure final berth in Pakistan Cup

Karachi Whites secure final berth in Pakistan Cup

Asher Butt

LAHORE: Karachi Whites booked their place in the final of the Pakistan Cup cricket tournament after a convincing 43-run victory over Multan Region in the second semi-final.

The match, held at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi, saw significant contributions from Karachi Whites' key players, propelling them into the championship clash.

Multan won the toss and elected to field first, opting to put Karachi Whites into bat. The decision set the stage for an exciting encounter between the two teams.

Karachi Whites openers, Shan Masood and Saim Ayub, laid a solid foundation with a formidable 106-run partnership. While Shan Masood contributed 41 runs, the highlight of the innings was Saim Ayub's exceptional knock. Ayub showcased his batting prowess, scoring a brilliant 95 off 86 balls, including 12 fours and a six. Other notable contributions came from Habibullah (40), Danish Aziz (33), and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (28).

Multan's bowling unit, led by Mohammad Imran, managed to restrict Karachi Whites to a total of 280 runs in 44.3 overs. Imran was the most successful bowler for Multan, claiming three wickets for 58 runs. Muhammad Sadaqat and Faisal Akram chipped in with two wickets each.

Multan faced challenges in their run chase, losing two early wickets to the bowling prowess of Ghulam Mudassar. The match, however, experienced interruptions due to low light conditions. At the stoppage, Multan had scored 229 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 41 overs. The Duckworth-Lewis method was invoked to determine the final result.

In Multan's innings, Haseebullah played a heroic innings, scoring an unbeaten 106 runs off 108 balls, featuring 12 fours and 2 sixes. Despite his outstanding effort, Multan fell short of the revised target.

Sohail Khan emerged as the star bowler for Karachi Whites, securing four crucial wickets for 44 runs. His impactful bowling performance played a pivotal role in defending the total.

With this victory, Karachi Whites have earned the right to face Peshawar in the final, scheduled to take place at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The final promises to be an exhilarating contest as both teams vie for the prestigious Pakistan Cup title.

Brief Score:

Karachi Whites 280 runs (44.3 overs) Saeem Ayub 95, Shaan Masood 41, Habibullah 40, Muhammad Imran 58 / 3 wickets.

Multan 229 runs 9 out (41 overs) Haseebullah 106 not out, Sohaib Maqsood 32, Sohail Khan 44 / 4 wickets.