National T20 Cup 2020 | Southern Punjab [161/3] beat Northern [160/5] by 7 wickets to reach final

[MenInG]

Northern - Imad Wasim (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Ali Imran, Asif Ali, Farzan Raja, Haider Ali, Hammad Azam, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Musa Khan, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sohail Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Amin and Zeeshan Malik

Southern Punjab – Shan Masood (captain), Hussain Talat (vice-captain), Aamir Yamin, Ali Shafiq, Dilbar Hussain, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ilyas, Mohammad Imran, Saif Baddar, Sohaib Maqsood, Umer Khan, Umar Siddiq Khan, Zahid Mehmood, Zain Abbas and Zeeshan Ashraf (wicketkeeper).

[Thunderbolt14]

Northern favorites, but between Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Aamer Yamin, and Khushdil Shah, anything is possible.

[naseem]

Momentum is with SP......BUT RAUF &CO are a better attack than Balochistan.......anything can happen.....SP has tremendous firepower though Maqsood Yamin Khushdil Ashraf

[saabir]

Sohaib Maqsood is the key for southern Punjab and Haris Rouf is key for North. Is fav. Sohaib Maqsood and Azam Khan are the two monster hitter of the ball in pakistan followed by Khushdil and Asif Ali . Southern can chase anything with the likes of Sohaib , Khushdil and AAmir Yammim in the middle order. Northern as a Whole is a balanced And consistent side Like Australia but southern Is like Pakistan Pakistan. They can do anything

[MenInG]

Northern have won the toss and elected to bat first in the first semi-final of the National T20 Cup against Southern Punjab

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[Thunderbolt14]

7 bowling options and batting all the way through. What a side Northern is. They can play at high strike rate with no concern for wickets, but also have one of the most lethal bowling attacks in the competition.

I would be very surprised if Southern Punjab chase this down, though anything is possible.

[Omer2002]

Punjab have much more balanced side ..northern too many bowlers and no allrounders..i think punj can win this especially batting 2nd after yesterdays performance

[Thunderbolt14]

Punjab have much more balanced side ..northern too many bowlers and no allrounders..i think punj can win this especially batting 2nd after yesterdays performance

Shadab Imad Tanvir and Amir are no mugs with the bat.

Musa and Haris can slog.

[Shafi]

Good thing is lots of youngsters have given opportunities and most of them did good. Also we got some proper batsmen which we need most.

[Shafi]

Can anyone please tell me why PCB channel is 1.2 overs behind?

[Shafi]

What a poor pitch!!!!

[Titan24]

Zahid Mehmood with 2 wickets in one over. Imad has promoted himself

[Baigel]

Who are the current commentators? so monotonous

[Markhor]

That was a nice legbreak from Zahid Mahmood to dismiss Asif Ali.

[PakPremi]

How can they select a fluke hitter like Asif A for such an important match+

[Titan24]

Haider at 20 years of age was surely the biggest wicket for SP here.

Time for Imad and Shadab to build a partnership and post a decent total. I think around 160 could be decent in a knockout and considering the pitch isnt as easy to bat on as it was at the start of the leg, understandably so.

[MMHS]

To accommodate both Musa & Tanvir, Northern today has dropped one batsman and are four down now - hope it works. SP’s batting is probably the most explosive one but they’ll need one to stick around to chase anything above 150 against this attack.

[naseem]

Seems a 140 pitch....anything above 150 will b tough

[MMHS]

Shan is a very good thinker of the game. Today, saw the leggi was gripping the ball on probably a bit double paced, sluggish track & and got four bonus overs from Khusdil & he finished those four at one go.

[Titan24]

Shadab turning it on. Two 6s followed by 2 4s

[Deewana Mastana]

Shadab doing all the scoring showing that he has been working on his batting meanwhile Imad can't even find a boundary.

[Deewana Mastana]

Imad run out

Pretty lazy running by him

[Deewana Mastana]

160-5

[Titan24]

Shadab has played a crucial inning for his side. Will have to see if its enough against the power of SP

[MMHS]

Similar target that they chased in 10-12 overs yesterday ...... but the attack is different today. I think they should keep the same order today as well and keep Shan in middle order.

[Dark_Horse]

Imad have done a Imam.

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Impressive finish by Shadab Khan with four 4s and three 6s helps Northern to 160/5 in 20 overs in the first semi-final against Southern Punjab <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalT20Cup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"># NationalT20Cup</a> <br><br>Northern 160/5<br>Ali Imran 50 (35)<br>Shadab Khan 48* (27)<br>Zahid Mahmood 3/28</p>&mdash; PakPassion.net (@PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPassion/status/1317431371334356994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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[Rayyman]

Wat an innings shaddy

[PakPremi]

Shadab impresses every time I see him.

[Azzurri]

Rohail nazir comes across as a very selfish cricketer

[shamaan]

Excellent hitting by shadab improved his batting alot.this should be good game but I think nothern will win lots of bowling options

[shamaan]

Rohail nazir comes across as a very selfish cricketer

What due to not taking the single ?

[shamaan]

Punjab have much more balanced side ..northern too many bowlers and no allrounders..i think punj can win this especially batting 2nd after yesterdays performance

Shadab and imad are genuine all rounders pluss tanvir musa and amir can hit

[Azzurri]

What due to not taking the single ?

Yes, He did something like this during the U19 World Cup as well.

[Khan12]

So haris is the best new ball bowler this tournament and not given the new ball. I have to say i am not impressed by mohammed wasim. Haider also bats at 3 when he opens the guy opens in FC but here rubbish imran gets to open ahead of him.

[Rayyman]

Great initiative by PCB and Tuc to plant 10 trees after each six.

[PakPremi]

Northern should win the match but they shot themselves in foot by selecting Asif A, who is useless in batting and will cost in fielding as well, and Sohail T. Also Rohail N should have batted higher than Imad.

[PakPremi]

So haris is the best new ball bowler this tournament and not given the new ball. I have to say i am not impressed by mohammed wasim. Haider also bats at 3 when he opens the guy opens in FC but here rubbish imran gets to open ahead of him.

More like decision of useless captain Imad.

[amvbfm]

Imad have done a Imam.

Imad was really struggling today. High time he focuses on his fitness or he will (and should) join Sarfaraz.

[Dark_Horse]

More like decision of useless captain Imad.

Trio of perviliged seniors imad tanvir amir

[Titan24]

So haris is the best new ball bowler this tournament and not given the new ball. I have to say i am not impressed by mohammed wasim. Haider also bats at 3 when he opens the guy opens in FC but here rubbish imran gets to open ahead of him.

As per commies, Haris prefers bowling to the right handers. Regarding Ali Imran, I think he is decent. Haider has been playing in the middle order for PZ as well as thats where Pak possibly wants him to play in T20s as of now.

[MMHS]

Shan Masood alone has added 0.5 in asking within Power Play - hope the stays long enough to make it up.

[Pacy with wisdom]

Watching Amir these days is a tiring experience.

[Khan12]

Wat an innings shaddy

Much better then garbage fatmad.

[Pacy with wisdom]

As per commies, Haris prefers bowling to the right handers. Regarding Ali Imran, I think he is decent. Haider has been playing in the middle order for PZ as well as thats where Pak possibly wants him to play in T20s as of now.

He bowls better to left handers as well and his average proves that. Averages around 5 per wicket agsinst them.
Imad just showcasing that he us just another run if the mill tribal age captain by bringing the best bowler of the tourni in the 5th over and opening with two impotent oldies.
Shahdab should be permanently given the reigns from next season.

[Khan12]

More like decision of useless captain Imad.

Or the combination of both Haider has been batting at 3 even before imad arrived. Mohammed wasim gets way too much credit here.

[Titan24]

Who would have thought SP would reach the semis and will push the Northern in a corner.

[trickyone]

Southern Punjab is replica of Pakistan team

[Khan12]

As per commies, Haris prefers bowling to the right handers. Regarding Ali Imran, I think he is decent. Haider has been playing in the middle order for PZ as well as thats where Pak possibly wants him to play in T20s as of now.

The commentators are lost then he clearly bowls even better to left hander no idea where they got that from. Haider should be opening for PZ and here i have seen enough of ali imran and hes not good enough. Haider is far better then him and should be giving him as many as balls as possible. I am sure haider will open in odis for us becuase he aint batting at 3 in place of babar so i dont buy that.

[Markhor]

Favourites Northern could be going out here.

[Titan24]

The commentators are lost then he clearly bowls even better to left hander no idea where they got that from. Haider should be opening for PZ and here i have seen enough of ali imran and hes not good enough. Haider is far better then him and should be giving him as many as balls as possible. I am sure haider will open in odis for us becuase he aint batting at 3 in place of babar so i dont buy that.

Haider is surely the best batsman in Northern T20 lineup without a doubt in my opinion. I was referring to T20s when I said middle order of Pakistan team. In ODIs, we will have to see where he is played and how he is managed.

[trickyone]

Needs to give a credit to Akbar-ur-Rehman (SP Coach), he did a pretty good job

[Titan24]

He bowls better to left handers as well and his average proves that. Averages around 5 per wicket agsinst them.

Well thats cricket commies for you I guess.

[Titan24]

Needs to give a credit to Akbar-ur-Rehman (SP Coach), he did a pretty good job

Was looking bad initially with Bhatti, Irfan and Rahat as the main pacers but then dropped them after the 1st leg which has done wonders.

[asadee]

Poor captaincy of Imad has been exposed in this tournament

[Titan24]

I would deploy Shadab against Sohaib. A risk which Northern has to take here

[Khan12]

Haider is surely the best batsman in Northern T20 lineup without a doubt in my opinion. I was referring to T20s when I said middle order of Pakistan team. In ODIs, we will have to see where he is played and how he is managed.

Even in t20s he should be opening with babar. Fakhar has had enough oppurtunies sick and tired of seeing him nowdays. As for haider he will have to open in odis or bat 4 while abdullah shafiq opening.

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Zeeshan Ashraf falls but not before he&#39;s provided Southern Punjab with an excellent platform. He&#39;s out for 55 off 32, SP 91/1 in 10.2 overs in chase of 161 against Northern <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalT20Cup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"># NationalT20Cup</a></p>&mdash; PakPassion.net (@PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPassion/status/1317447555693879304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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[MMHS]

Northerns can be out on first hurdle with that squad!!!! I thought they were one batsman short which could have been covered had top order stayed long, but they lost 2-3 wickets in quick succession and last pair had to bat through - they over did it a not. But the bowlers are disappointing today on that surface.

[PakPremi]

Northern have looked flat since Imad arrived.

[Omer2002]

I did say easy win for punjab

[Shafi]

Northern should kick Asif Ali. Such a rubbish player!!!

[trickyone]

Confidence is one thing but over confident (That's exactly what happened with Northern today)


On a serious note, why PCB didn't go with Eliminator type of playoffs like franchise league playoff format

[GoUgandaCranes]

Southern Punjab has gotten better and better with every match. Good all-rounders are the key for this team. Amir Yamin has taken responsibility well in the second half of the tournament and with Zahid they have a good potent spinner.

Three all-rounders who are all good at domestic level is something that is a rarity.

[trickyone]

C'mon SP finish the game, stop toying with kids

[Shafi]

Confidence is one thing but over confident (That's exactly what happened with Northern today)


On a serious note, why PCB didn't go with Eliminator type of playoffs like franchise league playoff format

I think Northern always have some vulnerable players. Players like Asif, Amir and Tanvir were never that good to threat other teams. Today other players have bad day to cover these players.

[PakPremi]

I know Masood played a blinder yesterday but I do not like him, he appears so irresponsible and lazy. Hope he does not ever get picked for Pakistan. Better than Asif Ali but will fail will more often than not.

[Saj]

Well it looks like the hot favourites and big names of Northern are in trouble.

[shamaan]

Very well played SP good chase who would have thought couple days they would have got to the final

[MMHS]

Looks like Mo Wasim isn’t that talented as coach after all - couldn’t make even the final with this squad.

And, it was for a tactical blunder today - they went with bowling heavy XI and was almost forced to bat first, which gave SP the chance to chase - probably the most explosive & deep batting lineup in this tournament.

[Markhor]

Shan Masood is playing a hell of a captain's knock.

[shamaan]

So haris is the best new ball bowler this tournament and not given the new ball. I have to say i am not impressed by mohammed wasim. Haider also bats at 3 when he opens the guy opens in FC but here rubbish imran gets to open ahead of him.

That was proberly the captain choice rather than the coach choice

[Zeshan547]

That's is typical Pakistani comeback from the dead by SP, the momentum is with them, they should be firm favorites for final as well whoever they face.

[Titan24]

Congrats to SP, outstanding stuff. Entered semis out of nowhere and now have beaten the favorites of the tournament. Heading to the final.

[Shafi]

Amir is becoming such a useless bowler. He should concentrate playing overseas leagues.

[trickyone]

Whatta win against Shoday 11...

[shamaan]

The commentators are lost then he clearly bowls even better to left hander no idea where they got that from. Haider should be opening for PZ and here i have seen enough of ali imran and hes not good enough. Haider is far better then him and should be giving him as many as balls as possible. I am sure haider will open in odis for us becuase he aint batting at 3 in place of babar so i dont buy that.

Ali imran has been decent and for Pakistan hes batting at 3 in t20s and for zalami hes come in at 3 in odis he is likely to bat oppening ot number 4

[Shafi]

Looks like Mo Wasim isn’t that talented as coach after all - couldn’t make even the final with this squad.

And, it was for a tactical blunder today - they went with bowling heavy XI and was almost forced to bat first, which gave SP the chance to chase - probably the most explosive & deep batting lineup in this tournament.

The squad looks stronger. But there are some ordinary players like AMir, Asif and Tanvir in the final 11. They are hardly any match winner.

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A surprise in the National T20 Cup as favourites for the tournament Northern have been comfortably beaten by Southern Punjab in the semi-finals. 3-28 for Zahid Mahmood, Zeeshan Ashraf with 55 &amp; skipper Shan Masood saw his team home with 79* off 58 balls <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalT20Cup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"># NationalT20Cup</a></p>&mdash; Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1317459268145217536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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[Saj]

A fine and measured performance by Southern Punjab today.

Even when Northern were 80 for 1 after 10 overs they didn't panic and knew that wickets would stem the flow of runs.

160 wasn't a great total for Northern and Southern Punjab paced their chase really well.

A captain's knock from Shan.