National T20 Cup: Karachi Whites and Multan secure wins

Karachi Whites and Multan emerged victorious in their respective matches in the National T20 Cup on Tuesday, with standout performances from Saud Shakeel and Imam-ul-Haq.

At Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, Karachi Whites defeated Lahore Blues by 37 runs. Batting first after losing the toss, Karachi Whites posted 171/5 in their 20 overs. Saud Shakeel led the charge with a brilliant 73-run knock, smashing 8 fours and 3 sixes.

In response, Lahore Blues struggled and were bowled out for 134 runs, despite Qasim Akram's 36-run effort.

Star batter Babar Azam managed just 22 runs, hitting three boundaries. Arif Yaqoob was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 wickets for 23 runs. Saud Shakeel was named Player of the Match for his exceptional performance.

Meanwhile, at LCCA Ground, Lahore, Multan defeated Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Region by 5 wickets. Batting first after winning the toss, AJK posted 164/8 in 20 overs, with Usman Maroof scoring 40 runs, including 4 sixes and 2 fours. Sharun Siraj and Muhammad Ismail starred with the ball, taking 3 wickets each, conceding 10 and 23 runs, respectively.

In reply, Multan chased down the target in 19 overs, losing 5 wickets. Imam-ul-Haq anchored the innings with a match-winning 79 off 10 fours and 2 sixes*, guiding his team to victory.