SPORTS DESK
DOHA (Qatar): Pakistan clinched victory in thrilling fashion as Saad Masood nudged an inside edge off the final ball to score the decisive run, sealing the title for the Shaheens. Just moments earlier, he had cracked a boundary, leaving Pakistan on the brink with only one run needed from the final three deliveries.
Bangladesh narrowly missed out during the regular 20 overs while chasing Pakistan’s modest total of 126, ending just one run short at 125–9.
Openers Habibur Rahman Sohan and Jishan Alam provided early momentum, scoring confidently in the powerplay. But Pakistan quickly regained control — Arafat Minhas sent Jishan back in the third over, and Saad Masood dismissed Habibur soon after, who had looked dangerous with 26 off just 13 balls.
Arafat’s tight bowling continued to pay off when he removed Mahidul Islam Ankon for a duck, leaving Bangladesh struggling at 36–3. The collapse accelerated as Sufiyan Muqeem and Maaz Sadaqat chipped in with crucial wickets, including skipper Akbar Ali for just two.
Sufiyan struck decisively after the interval, claiming two wickets in one over to leave Bangladesh at 53–7. A determined stand between Rakibul Hasan and SM Meherob added 37 vital runs and offered brief hope, but Ahmed Daniyal broke through, removing both batters and cutting short the recovery.
Bangladesh’s final pair — Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Ripon Mondol — stunned Pakistan by hammering three sixes off Shahid Aziz in the 19th over. Suddenly, just seven runs were needed off the final six balls. Yet their challenge fell short by a single run, forcing the contest to be decided via Super Over.
Pakistan’s start was disastrous — Yasir Khan run out without scoring, and Mohammad Faiq dismissed two balls later. At just 2–2 by the second over, Pakistan was reeling early.
A brief recovery came through Ghazi Ghori and Maaz Sadaqat, who put on 23 runs, but they too departed, leaving Pakistan at 49–4. Arafat Minhas and captain Irfan Niazi tried to stabilize the innings, but both were removed as pressure mounted.
Saad Masood’s composed 38 off 26 balls — featuring six big scoring shots — lifted Pakistan past the 100 mark and kept them alive. Still, wickets fell steadily toward the end: Shahid Aziz trapped LBW, Masood dismissed shortly after, and Ubaid Shah out for naught. Daniyal was run out on the final delivery, with Sufiyan Muqeem left unbeaten on four.
Read more: https://nayakashmir.com/pml-n-dominates-punjab-kp-by-polls-winning-12-of-13-seats/
