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Balochistan snatch thrilling two-run win against Sindh

Sindh needed three off the last two deliveries, but successive run-outs condemned them to defeat.

Umar Farooq
Umar Farooq
01-Oct-2020
Haris Sohail looks to play one towards third man  •  AFP

Haris Sohail looks to play one towards third man  •  AFP

A late blitz by Sohail Khan nearly took away the game from Balochistan, only for Sindh to eventually fall short by two runs in a thriller in Multan. Sohail arrived with his side struggling at 121 for 6, needing another 60 off 27 balls. Sohail smoked 31 off 16 balls to open up the contest, but Umaid Asif defended 11 in the final over to seal victory for Balochistan.
The match came down to the final two balls, with Sindh three away from a win. However, Hassan Khan and Mohammad Hasnain both crumbled under the pressure, getting run out successively, leaving Sohail stranded at the other end.
Sindh had begun the chase of 181 slowly, making just 23 from the first 19 balls as wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. Sharjeel Khan was able to chip in with only 10, while the captain Sararaz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq both threw away good starts. Sohail and Anwar Ali (20 off 11) both tried their best to revive the innings, but Ali's wicket in the 19th over left Sohail with a bit too much to do.
Earlier in the day, Balochistan opted to bat and made a strong start. Sindh selected their part-time offspinner Asad Shafiq to bowl the opening over against the left-handed opening pair of Imam-ul-Haq and Awais Zia, who hammered 25 off just 9 balls. A half-century by Bismillah Khan, and his 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket with captain Haris Sohail helped propel Balochistan to 180 for 8.

Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo's Pakistan correspondent