The Pakistan Shaheens kicked off their white-ball series with a significant four-wicket victory over Northern Territory (NT) Strike at the Gardens Oval on Sunday. In their chase of a modest target of 143, the Shaheens faced an early setback when opener Haseebullah fell for just two runs. However, the team quickly recovered to secure the win.
Sahibzada Farhan contributed a steady 30 runs from 32 deliveries, while Usman Khan added 20 off 22 balls. Mubashir Khan’s unbeaten 32 and Mohammad Irfan Khan’s 21 runs off 28 balls were crucial in steering the team to victory. Captain Mohammad Haris, unfortunately, had a short outing, dismissed without scoring by Matt Hammond.
Earlier in the day, NT Strike chose to bat first after winning the toss but struggled against a disciplined bowling attack. They were bowled out for a mere 142 runs. Jahandad Khan and Mubashir Khan were the standout bowlers, claiming seven wickets between them. Jahandad was particularly impressive with four wickets, while Mubashir picked up three. Mohammad Imran Jr and Faisal Akram each contributed with a wicket.
Jagadeswara Koduru was the top scorer for NT Strike, managing 59 runs off 80 balls, including four boundaries. Matt Hammond supported him with 22 runs.
Looking ahead, the Pakistan Shaheens are set to face Bangladesh A on August 6 in their next 50-over match. The squad, led by Mohammad Haris, includes players like Abdul Faseeh, Arafat Minhas, and Tayyab Tahir, among others.
Pakistan Shaheens Upcoming Matches:
– August 4: 50-over match vs. Northern Territory (NT)
– August 6: 50-over match vs. Bangladesh A
– August 10: vs. Perth Scorchers (Top End T20 Series)
– August 11: vs. Melbourne Stars (Top End T20 Series)
– August 13: vs. Tasmania (Top End T20 Series)
– August 15: vs. Melbourne Renegades (Top End T20 Series)
– August 16: vs. Bangladesh A (Top End T20 Series)
– August 17: vs. ACT Comets (Top End T20 Series)
The Shaheens’ opening win sets a positive tone for the rest of the tour, showcasing their potential to perform well in both the 50-over and T20 formats.
