Whites edge Blues in Champions Cup thriller

KARACHI: Pakistan Whites secured a nerve-wracking six-run victory against Pakistan Blues in a nail-biting encounter of the Al Batal Presents University of Lahore National Champions Cup 2026-2027 at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Thursday night.

Spearheaded by a lethal pace unit, Whites staged a remarkable comeback to defend a modest total of 245. The pace trio of Mohammad Wasim Junior, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Haris Rauf fired in unison, sharing all ten wickets between them to fold Blues for 239 in 49.4 overs.

Wasim Junior was the architect of the victory, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in competitive cricket. The right-arm pacer ripped through the oppositions batting line-up with figures of 5-46, removing key batsmen including half-centurion Maaz Sadaqat, Tayyab Tahir, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Ahmed Daniyal and Sufiyan Muqeem.

The match build-up to a crescendo in the final over with the Blues requiring 15 for victory. Veteran all-rounder Hasan Ali threatened to snatch the game away, smashing two boundaries off Dahani in a gritty 29-run cameo. Hasan and Akif Javed compiled a fighting 22-run partnership for the final wicket, bringing the Blues agonizingly close to the target. However, Dahani held his composure, forcing Hasan to sky a full toss to Usman Khan to close out the match with two balls to spare. Dahani finished with splendid figures of 4-43, taking his List A wicket-tally to 95.

Earlier in the chase, Blues looked comfortably placed to overhaul the target. Following the early departure of Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat (59) and Mohammad Faiq (54) combined for a commanding 99-run second-wicket partnership. The duo put the Blues in the driving seat before Wasim Junior and Haris Rauf struck in quick succession, removing both set batsmen within the span of eight balls.

The breakthrough triggered a catastrophic collapse as the Blues slid from 129-1 to 158-6, with Dahani removing Arafat Minhas and Rohail Nazir. Muhammad Irfan Khan offered stiff resistance with a brisk 37 off 34 balls, but Wasim Junior returned to clean him up in the 43rd over before delivering a decisive double-wicket 46th over to derail the chase.

In the first innings, Pakistan Whites found themselves in deep trouble against the Blues' spin attack, which accounted for seven wickets. Mohammad Faiq led the bowling charge with a career-best 3-36, removing openers Saim Ayub and Mohsin Riaz early on.

Shahzaib Khan played a rescuing act for the Whites, smashing his second consecutive half-century of the tournament. His brilliant 71 off 84 balls, laced with three boundaries and three sixes, anchored the innings. After a middle-order wobble left them reeling at 157-6, Saad Masood (35) and Haris Rauf (27) stitched a vital 53-run partnership to propel the team to a competitive 245 before being bowled out in the final over.

Summarised scores

Pakistan Whites 245 all out, 49.3 overs (Shahzaib Khan 71, Saad Masood 35, Usman Khan 29, Haris Rauf 27, Saim Ayub 22, Mohammad Wasim Junior 21, Hasan Nawaz 20; Mohammad Faiq 3-36, Maaz Sadaqat 2-12)

Pakistan Blues 239 all out, 49.4 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 59, Mohammad Faiq 54, Muhammad Irfan Khan 37, Hasan Ali 29; Mohammad Wasim Junior 5-46, Shahnawaz Dahani 4-43)

Player of the match: Mohammad Wasim Junior (Pakistan Whites)