Shaheens Dominate as Yasir, Spinners Sink Bangladesh ‘A’

News Desk

Islamabad: A collective batting masterclass followed by a dominant spin performance led Pakistan Shaheens to a commanding 79-run victory over Bangladesh ‘A’ in the opening match of the Top End T20 Series at TIO Stadium on Thursday evening.

After electing to bat first, the Shaheens posted an imposing 227 for four in their 20 overs. Openers Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (61 off 31) and Yasir Khan (62 off 40) set the tone with a blistering 118-run partnership in just 11.1 overs. Yasir’s aggressive strokeplay earned him the Player of the Match award.

Abdul Samad carried the momentum forward, smashing an unbeaten 56 off just 27 balls, including five sixes. He shared a quick-fire 36-run stand with skipper Muhammad Irfan Khan (25 off 12) to push the total well past the 200-mark.

Bangladesh ‘A’ got off to a rapid start despite the early loss of a wicket, reaching 92 for one in seven overs. Opener Jishan Alam (33) and Mohammad Saif Hassan (57) stitched together an 86-run stand, threatening a strong chase.

However, left-arm spinner Maaz Sadaqat broke the partnership in the eighth over, triggering a dramatic collapse. Spinners Faisal Akram (3-19) and Saad Masood (3-30) dismantled the middle and lower order, while pacer Mohammad Wasim Jnr (2-24) added crucial breakthroughs to bowl out the opposition for 148 in 16.5 overs.

Pakistan Shaheens will next face the Scorchers on Saturday, 16 August, at the same venue, with the match scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM local time.

Scores in Brief:

• Pakistan Shaheens 227-4 (20 overs): Yasir Khan 62, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay 61, Abdul Samad 56*, Muhammad Irfan Khan 25
• Bangladesh ‘A’ 148 all out (16.5 overs): Mohammad Saif Hassan 57, Jishan Alam 33; Faisal Akram 3-19, Saad Masood 3-30, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-24
• Result: Pakistan Shaheens won by 79 runs

Player of the Match: Yasir Khan (Pakistan Shaheens)