Haider, Zeeshan register record-breaking partnership in National T20 Cup opener

Northern batsmen Haider Ali and Zeeshan Malik came together for a monumental 180-run partnership in the first match of the National T20 Cup against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) on Wednesday, which became the highest second-wicket partnership in the history of the tournament.

The two young batsmen helped Northern reach a massive total of 242 runs in their allotted 20 overs.

Haider scored 90 runs off 51 deliveries whereas Malik scored 77 off 47 deliveries after taking the experienced and lethal KPK bowling attack to the cleaners.

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s official Twitter account confirmed the achievement through a tweet after the sensational partnership.

“19-year-old Haider Ali and 23-year-old Zeeshan Malik partnered for 180 today which goes down as the highest second-wicket partnership in the history of the #NationalT20Cup. The previous best was between 169* between Yasir Hameed and Younis Khan in 2014,” the PCB tweet stated.

19-year-old Haider Ali and 23-year-old Zeeshan Malik partnered for 180 today which goes down as the highest second wicket partnership in the history of the #NationalT20Cup

Previous best was between 169* between Yasir Hameed and Younis Khan in 2014#HarHaalMainCricket | #NORvKP pic.twitter.com/RJMA9mOBY7

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 30, 2020

The tournament will be played in two phases: the first one running from September 30 to October 6 in Multan and the second phase to be staged from October 9-18 in Rawalpindi.