Pakistan beat South Africa in Over-40s T20 World Cup
Sohail Khan delivered a decisive spell, conceding 29 runs in four overs and claiming three wickets, earning him the Player of the Match award. PHOTO: PR
The IMC Over-40s T20 World Cup commenced in Karachi with six matches decided on the opening day.
The feature match at the National Stadium saw Pakistan begin their campaign with a hard-fought three-run victory over South Africa.
After winning the toss, South Africa opted to field first. Pakistan posted 134 for 5 in their allotted overs, with Tariq Mahmood contributing a composed 45 and captain Abdul Razzaq adding 36.
South Africa responded with determination, led by Werner Moolman who played a resilient innings of 55 off 48 balls.
However, Pakistan’s bowlers held their nerve in the closing stages. Sohail Khan delivered a decisive spell, conceding 29 runs in four overs and claiming three wickets, earning him the Player of the Match award.
At Southend Club, the USA recorded a 24-run win over Rest of the Gulf. Batting first, the USA reached 168 for 5 and their disciplined bowling restricted the opposition to 144 for 9. At Karachi Gymkhana, West Indies successfully chased Canada’s total of 122 for 6, completing the target with seven wickets in hand.
In other matches, the United Arab Emirates defeated Hong Kong by 31 runs at Southend Club after setting 166 for 8 and restricting Hong Kong to 135-7 in their allotted 20 overs. The Rest of the World team overcame Zimbabwe at Karachi Gymkhana, defending their total of 134 for 9 as Zimbabwe faltered for 80-8 in their innings.
At the National Bank Stadium, Sri Lanka secured a three-wicket victory over Australia, chasing 147 for 7 with one over to spare. Marlon Fernando and Manjula Guruge stood out for Sri Lanka with valuable contributions of 35 runs each.
The opening day of the IMC Over-40s T20 World Cup highlighted the competitive spirit and enthusiasm of veteran cricketers from around the world, setting a promising tone for the remainder of the tournament.