The top tier tournament of Pakistan domestic cricket, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy First XI made history when the final of season 2020/21 between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Central Punjab (CP) ended in a draw with both teams being declared the joint winners.
The match that was in favor of KPK on the final day, the pacer Hasan Ali representing CP took it away from KPK with his unbeaten 106 runs off 61 balls.
CP began their inning on 140-2 on the final day requiring 216 runs to win. Usman Salahuddin (51) and Mohammad Saad (27) began the innings for CP but soon both returned to the pavilion after scoring 67 and 27 runs respectively.
The CP team soon came down from 140-2 to 202-7, with Saad Naseem (5), Qasim Akram (30), Ali Shaan (11), and Bilawal Iqbal (7) losing their wickets.
Then came in Hassan Ali to support his batting line-up and struck 106 runs off 61 balls with the help of 10 fours and seven sixes. He was able to turn the game around and took it from KPK to end it in a draw on the fifth day. Other than Ali, Ahmed Safi scored 35 and Waqas Maqsood scored four runs.
KPK was able to restrict the team on 355 in 117.3 with the help of Sajid Khan taking four, Arshan Iqbal taking three, Ifranullah Shah took two and Sameen Gul took one wicket to end the match in a draw.
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa scored 300 in their first innings and Central Punjab declared their first innings at 257 for nine. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa scored 312 in their second innings to help Central Punjab win. Waqas Maqsood of Central Punjab bowled out seven players in the match and Irfanullah Shah of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa guided six players to the pavilion.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kamran Ghulam was named the best batsman of the season 21-20, Sajid Khan was named the best bowler of the tournament. Rehan Afridi was named the best wicket-keeper. Hasan Ali was declared player of the final and player of the tournament.
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