MULTAN: Karachi Blues has won the National T-20 Cup defeating Karachi Whites by three runs in the final in Multan.
Blues’ win was set up by half-centuries from Khurram Manzoor and Fawad Alam. Alam set about reviving the innings after the early loss of the openers, with a brace of pulled fours. Manzoor, becalmed till then, struck three fours in four balls, and motored to his half-century in 36 balls, bringing it up in the 15th over. By then, Blues were 118 for 2.
Manzoor kicked into a higher gear when he crashed back-to-back sixes off Azam in the 17th over. But he fell next ball, skewing a catch to gully. Alam then reached his own half-century off 35 balls, and was assisted by Mohammad Sami’s unbeaten 20 off 10 balls. Blues took 64 off the last five overs, and it proved just enough to deny Whites.
Chasing the target of 183 runs, Karachi Whites were restricted to 179 for 8 in the final over.
Muhammad Nawaz of Karachi Blues took four wickets for 26.
Karachi Blues 182 for 3 (Manzoor 70, Alam 67*) beat Karachi Whites 179 for 8 (Abbas 47, Nawaz 4-26) by three runs
