Lahore Blues clinch National U19 Cup title with seven-wicket win over Rawalpindi

Staff Report

MULTAN: Three wickets each from Naqeebullah and Ibtisam Azhar led Lahore Blues to a seven-wicket win over Rawalpindi in the final of the National U19 Cup at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Right-arm off-spinner Ibtisam finished the tournament with 20 wickets from eight matches. The match, which was live-streamed on Tapmad across Pakistan and on PCB’s YouTube channel for viewers outside Pakistan, saw Rawalpindi opting to bat first after winning the toss. They were bowled out for 142 in 44.1 overs, with Ali Mehdi top-scoring with 36. For Lahore Blues, left-arm spinner Naqeebullah and right-arm off-spinner Ibtisam took three wickets apiece for 16 and 25 runs, respectively. In reply, Lahore Blues lost three wickets in their chase and achieved the target in 39.4 overs. Jahangir Bilal top-scored for the winning side with an unbeaten 56 off 97 balls, hitting seven fours. Lahore Blues’ captain, Ali Hassan Baloch, who missed out on a big score in the final, was named player of the tournament and best batter for scoring 603 runs from eight matches at an average of 75.38, including three centuries and two half-centuries. Faisalabad’s Momin Qamar was declared bowler of the tournament for his 22 wickets in eight matches. The left-arm spinner had two five-wicket hauls to his name.

Brief scores:

Lahore Blues beat Rawalpindi by seven wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium

Rawalpindi 142 all out, 44.1 overs (Ali Mehdi 36; Naqeebullah 3-16, Ibtisam Azhar 3-25) vs Lahore Blues 143-3, 39.4 overs (Jahangir Bilal 56 not out, Khizer Butt 46)

Player of the match – Naqeebullah (Lahore Blues)

Player of the Tournament – Ali Hassan Baloch (Lahore Blues).