Shehzad sets Pakistan T20 record in Central Punjab’s first win

Opener Ahmed Shehzad’s unbeaten 111-run knock for Central Punjab against Northern on Tuesday, has made him the first Pakistan batsman to score five centuries in Twenty20 (T20) cricket.

The 27-year-old’s instrumental knock came off just 63 balls, which included 13 fours and three sixes.

Shehzad’s century helped Central Punjab to a four-wicket win over Northern in the fifth fixture of the ongoing National T20 Cup at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium.

Set a target of 223, Central Punjab chased down the total on the penultimate ball of the match, breaking the record of successfully chasing the highest target in T20s in Pakistan.

The record was previously held by Lahore Eagles after they chased a target of 211 runs against Sialkot Stallions in 2005.

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The next best scorer in the Central Punjab’s innings after Shehzad was middle-order batsman Saad Nasim, who made 29 from 20 balls with three fours and a six.

All-rounder Faheem Ashraf lofted two sixes and a four in his 28, which came off 16 balls.

Northern’s captain Imad Wasim was the pick of the bowlers with three for 38.

Northern had set 222 for six in 20 overs – after deciding to bat - courtesy of hard-hitting batsman Asif Ali, who struck a blistering 93 off 35 balls with four fours and 10 sixes.

All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz scored 51 off 35 balls, cracking four sixes and a four as the pair stitched a 107-run partnership for the third-wicket.

Faheem took three wickets for 44 runs, while pacers Waqas Maqsood, Nasim Shah and leg-spinner Usman Qadir took a wicket each.