Sarfaraz Ahmed National T20 Cup Archives

Sarfaraz’s 62* goes in vain as CP down Sindh in National T20 Cup

RAWALPINDI: Sindh wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed’s valiant knock of unbeaten 62 runs went in vain as Central Punjab’s (CP) Aamer Yamin held his nerves calm to defend 21 runs in the final over to bolster his side to a maiden victory in the ongoing National T20 Cup 2022.

Set to chase a commendable 189, Sindh fell 11 runs short in the end despite a blistering and gritty knock by wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz as he could not get any support from the rest of the batters.

Sindh were off to a flying start to their run chase as the right-handed young opener Saim Ayub took on the CP bowlers and scored at a rapid pace. His partner, Sharjeel, however, who was struggling to get going, perished in the fourth over after scoring a snail-paced nine.

Saim then joined hands with Omair Yousuf and added 30 runs for the second wicket before Shoaib Malik trapped him in his legs in the seventh over. He scored a quickfire 35 off 17 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and two sixes.

Sindh lost another wicket in the next over and were slipped to 65/3 as all-rounder Saad Khan perished cheaply for a mere one.

Sarfaraz then joined Omair at the crease and anchored the run chase with a 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The pair appeared solid and had brought their side back in the hunt before the latter fell in the 15th over after scoring 37 off 29 deliveries.

Following his departure, Sindh began to lose wickets at an alarming rate, while Sarfaraz held his ground firm and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly.

All-rounder Anwar Ali was the only batter who provided some support to Sarfaraz to pull off the match, while the rest of the batters could not enter the double-figures.

Sarfaraz remained unbeaten with his quickfire knock of 62 off just 37 deliveries, laced with five boundaries and two sixes.

Usama Mir shone with the ball for CP as he bagged three wickets, while Mohammad Ali claimed two. Shoaib, Qasim Akram, and Yamin, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

Batting first, CP managed to put on a decent 188/5 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to the fifties from Faizan Khan and Shoaib.

Faizan top-scored for the side with a blistering 55 off a mere 24 deliveries including six boundaries and four sixes, while Shoaib followed back with 54 off just 33 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and two sixes.

Tayyab Tahir and Irfan Khan also contributed with 33 each and bolstered the side to finish at a decent total.

For Sindh, Abrar Ahmed and Sohail Khan led the way with two wickets each, while Saim struck out a batter.

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Sarfaraz fined for using inappropriate language in National T20 Cup

RAWALPINDI: Sindh wicket-keeper batter and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been fined for using inappropriate language in the seventh match of the ongoing National T20 Cup 2022.

In a match between Sindh and Balochistan, Sarfaraz used incongruous language after being dismissed by Kashif Bhatti in the 17th over.

The on-field umpires Mohammad Asif and Imtiaz Iqbal, third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Nasir Hussain imposed the charge on the wicket-keeper batter.

As a result, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) charged Sarfaraz under Article 2.3 which reads as, “Use of audible obscenity”.

The right-handed batter was charged 30 percent of the match fee for a level 1 breach of the PCB’s Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.

Sarfaraz being guilty and accepting the sanctions, however, outwrote the need for a formal hearing for the charges imposed by the match referee Nadeem Arshad.

It is pertinent to mention here that Balochistan edged past table-toppers Sindh by five wickets to claim their second victory in the ongoing tournament.

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Sarfaraz, bowlers power Sindh to thump SP in National T20 Cup opener

RAWALPINDI: Sindh’s wicket-keeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed led the way with a gritty knock of 42 runs before the bowlers displayed combined effort to hand their side an opening victory against Southern Punjab (SP) in the recently-commenced National T20 Cup 2022/23.

In the first match of the National T20 Cup, Sindh outclassed Southern Punjab by a hefty margin of 42 runs at the back of the astonishing valiant knock from the former captain Sarfaraz.

Batting first, Sindh were off to a decent start as the openers Sharjeel Khan and Saim Ayub provided a solid 38-run partnership for the first wicket.

The duo appeared solid and were scoring at a quick pace before Ali Majid castled the left-hander in the fifth over. Sharjeel scored 24 off 19 deliveries, laced with five boundaries.

The side then lost another wicket in a span of six deliveries as newly-arrived right-handed batter Omair Yousuf fell cheaply for five.

Sindh captain Saud Shakeel then attempted to anchor the inning with Saim but remained unable and could only add 29 runs for the third wicket before Saim perished after scoring a quick 30 off 20 deliveries, laced with five boundaries.

Saud’s stay at the crease also remained brief as he walked back to the pavilion in the 12th over after scoring a run-a-ball 18.

Following his dismissal, the side then began to lose wickets at an alarming rate while the wicket-keeper held his ground firm and kept the scoreboard ticking single-handedly till the final over.

Sarfaraz top-scored for the side with 42 off 32 deliveries, laced with six boundaries, while the tailenders failed to contribute significantly as Sindh finished at 147 in 19.4 overs.

Sameen Gul and Mohammad Ilyas bagged three wickets each for SP, while Faisal Akram claimed two. Mohammad Imran and Ali Majid, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

Set to chase 148, the SP batting line-up failed completely and could only manage to amass 105 before being bowled out in the 17th over.

Right-handed batter Sharoon Siraj remained the top-scorer for the side with a valiant 36 off 27 deliveries, followed by Ilyas, who could score 19 in the run chase.

Sohail Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Sindh as he bagged three wickets for 15, while Danish Azid and Zahid Mahmood claimed two wickets each. Saad Khan, Anwar Ali, and Mir Hamza, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

For his gritty knock and two catches behind the stumps, Sarfaraz was adjudged the player of the opening match of the National T20 Cup 2022-23.

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