Afridi-led Gold qualify for final of National Champions Cup

LAHORE, Aug 16 (APP): Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold qualified for the final of the National Champions Cup 2026-27 after they thumped UOL Pakistan Whites by five wickets, chasing the 173-run target with 132 balls to spare here at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Rivaj Pakistan Greens led by Shadab Khan will now face Shaheen’s outfit in the final of the tournament at the same venue on Tuesday with the coin toss scheduled for 2.30pm and first ball expected to be bowled at 3pm.

Gold had lost their opening two matches and were faced with the equation of not just winning the game but also with a better net run rate than that of Blues and their today’s opponents Whites.

They were required to hunt the 173-run target in 32.1 overs but they did it in 28, finishing level with Whites and Blues on points but slightly better net run rate. Gold’s Haider Ali starred with 69 not out at no.5 after the top three had perished by the end of the powerplay in the chase.

On Sunday, player of the match and captain Shaheen won the toss and invited Whites to bat first. He led the charge with figures of 8-0-26-3 and was ably supported by pacers Mohammad Imran (5-0-25-1) and Razaullah (6-1-25-1) along with the spin duo of Mubasir Khan (10-0-29-2), Faisal Akram (9.4-1-48-2).

Whites kept on losing wickets at regular intervals as only Hasan Nawaz (55, 74b, 3x4s, 2x6s) and Saim Ayub (28, 39b, 4x4s) crossed the 20-run mark, while the highest stand in their innings came between Hasan and Saad Masood for the sixth wicket.

Hasan walked in to bat in the 13th over after Shahzaib Khan, Haseebullah and Usman Khan had returned to the dugout for single-digit scores. Soon Hasan also saw the back of Saim in 15th over and Khushdil Shah in 22nd. With the Gold bowlers charged up, Hasan and Saad (20, 21b, 2x4s) added 45 runs together adding some competitiveness to the contest.

Shaheen removed Hasan for his second scalp and Mohammad Wasim Jnr (18, 29b, 2x4s) for his third, while Faisal Akram claimed Saqib Khan and Ali Raza as Whites lost their last four wickets for 24 runs.

In turn, Haider and Saad Khan made sure Gold do not stutter in their chase after no.3 Kamran Ghulam had contributed a 26-ball 30, while the opening duo of Shamyl Hussain and Mohammad Akhlaq scored 15 each in the total of 61-3.

The right-left pair of Haider and Saad (33, 55b, 3x4s) frustrated Whites bowlers with the former being the aggressor and the latter supporting with his grit in a crucial 86-run stand.

Haider struck seven fours and three sixes in his 48-ball knock and despite Wasim Jnr claiming Saad and Ali Raza accounting for Abdul Samad in 25th and 26th over, the Gold cruised home in 28 overs – 25 balls before the required equation to qualify on net run rate.

Wasim Jnr picked up two wickets, Ali, Saim and Shahnawaz Dahani picked up one wicket each for Whites.

Scores in brief:

Match 6 – Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold beat UOL Pakistan Whites by five wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium

Pakistan Whites 172 all out, 41.4 overs (Hasan Nawaz 55, Saim Ayub 28, Saad Masood 20; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-26, Mubasir Khan 2-29, Faisal Akram 2-48)

Pakistan Gold 173-5, 28 overs (Haider Ali 69 not out, Saad Khan 33, Kamran Ghulam 30; Mohammad Wasim Jnr

Player of the match – Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan Gold).