Afridi stars as KPK beat Balochistan by eight wickets in National T20 Cup

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) registered their first win in the ongoing National T20 Cup with a thumping eight-wicket victory over Balochistan in Multan on Friday.

Chasing the 153-run target, opener Fakhar Zaman was off to a flier hitting three consecutive boundaries on the first three balls of the innings. However, the dashing opener was soon dismissed by all-rounder Amad Butt for 25.

KPK captain Mohammad Rizwan, who was opening the innings, then found an able ally in veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez as the duo struck a 66-run partnership in just 43 balls.

KPK were sailing smoothly towards the target but hit a small roadblock as left-arm pacer Akif Javed removed Hafeez for 45. The all-rounder hit five fours and three sixes in his 25-ball stay at the crease. Rizwan top scored with an unbeaten 57-run knock, as he took his team to the finish line with 18 balls to spare.

ALSO READ: Afridi stars as KPK beat Balochistan by eight wickets in National T20 Cup

Batting first, after winning the toss, Balochistan posted 152/9 in their allotted 20 overs.

After a blistering start by left-hand opener Awais Zia, left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi struck twice in the fourth over to remove Imamul Haq and Zia for 9 and 24, respectively.

Balochistan captain Haris Sohail and middle-order batsman Imran Butt combined for a 44-run partnership to keep the scoreboard ticking as KPK spinners continued to slow down the run rate.

Following Sohail’s departure (29 off 30), Imran Butt tried to up the ante but was eventually dismissed by left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz for 37. Afridi also kept picking wickets from the other end and finished with a five-wicket haul from his four overs, while restricting Balochistan to a modest total.