Sialkot’s Abdullah Shafique scores fifty during the Champions Trophy match against Multan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 17, 2025. – PCB
Sialkot has a critical win from a strong performance
Sialkot played a commanding performance and easily won at Gaddafi Stadium in Monday night’s National T20 Cup game against Multan. The two keystones of the triumph were Abdullah Shafique’s exceptional half-century and captain Shoaib Malik‘s cool innings since Sialkot effectively chased down the target in the last over.
During the game, both teams had outstanding, tenacious, and pressure-resistent moments. Ultimately, though, Sialkot’s deliberate use of the ball and the bat proved to be what secured the game.
Multan’s Difficult Regime: Steady Beginnings, Regular Wickets
A Shaky Start for Multan
After being brought in to bat first, Multan began slowly but found it challenging to keep up with regular wicket falls. Their success depended much on the work of Muhammad Shahzad and Imam-ul-Haq, who provided stability.
✅ Muhammad Shahzad had a responsible knock, hitting seven boundaries at a strike rate of 130.95 and scoring 55 off 42 balls.
✅ Imam-ul-Haq made a valuable contribution with a solid 41 off 33 balls, which included three fours and a six.
Though they made contributions, Multan struggled early on; the first breakthrough came at just 22 runs. The middle order was unable to exploit the circumstances, hence the squad was suffering at 72/4 by the time the last overs started.
Waseem Akram Jr.‘s Late Surge Saves Multan
Waseem Akram Jr. stepped up to give a last push just when it appeared that Multan would give way under siege.
🔥 The powerful lower-order batsman helped Multan post a competitive total of 147/8 in their allocated 20 overs by smashing 27 off just 17 balls at an aggressive strike rate of 158.82.
Despite his best efforts, Multan’s incapacity to form enduring partnerships cost them a higher total because the batting performance as a whole lacked smoothness.
Sialkot’s Bowlers Perform Well Under Duress
Because of Sialkot’s disciplined bowling attack, Multan was never able to accelerate freely.
Hasan Ali was the top bowler with a significant three-wicket haul; Raza got two wickets and provided decent support. Both Bilawal Bhatti and Usama Mir took one wicket, therefore stopping the innings of Multan from ever gaining total control.
The variety of the bowling performance helped Sialkot to boldly pursue the goal.
Leading Sialkot’s Chase are Abdullah Shafique and Shoaib Malik
Sialkot began their 148 cautiously in order to avoid losing early wickets.
📌 With 43 off 33 balls, five fours and one six with a strike rate of 130.30, Captain Shoaib Malik demonstrated his experience.
📌 With an incredible knock of 57 off 41 balls—including five boundaries and two sixes—at a strike rate of 139.02— Abdullah Shafique
Working together, Shafique and Malik helped Sialkot all through the innings, thus they never missed sight of the target.
Sialkot Holds On Despite Lower Order’s Unsteady Finish
Sialkot had a strong beginning, but in the end it had a mini-collapse.
⚠️ Mohammad Huraira (10 off 12) and Mirza Tahir Baig (14 off 19) played conservatively but were unable to generate the necessary momentum.
⚠️ Lack of contribution from Mohsin Riaz (0 off 10), Bilawal Bhatti (0 off 1), and Usama Mir (2 off 3) caused last-minute worry.
With three balls left, Mohsin Riaz and Afzal Manzoor teamed to help Sialkot leave a mark. Manzoor remained immaculate at six off four balls.
Important Takeaways from the Game
✅ Sialkot’s top-order success—that of Abdullah Shafique and Shoaib Malik—was effectively pursued because of their strategic approach.
✅ Multan’s Middle-Order Failure: Despite Imam and Shahzad’s inspiring beginning, the squad lacked relationships.
✅ Bowling Impact: The pivotal moment that held Multan back was Hasan Ali’s three-wicket haul.
Multan will need to reconsider their batting strategy for the upcoming matches, even though Sialkot’s victory maintains them in serious contention in the National T20 Cup.
Finally, a margins game
The acrimonious conflict between Sialkot and Multan demonstrated the significance of pressure control and middle-order stability. Despite their best efforts, Multan’s bowlers lacked the batting depth to contend with Sialkot’s seasoned squad.
Sialkot gains confidence and momentum from this win, while Multan needs to regroup and figure out how to improve their overall strategy.
It would be interesting to watch how these teams handle the challenges that lie ahead as the National T20 Cup goes on. Stay tuned for the upcoming PSL and its glorious eye-catchy ‘Luminara Trophy’—only’ on myco!
