DARWIN: Pakistan Shaheens held their nerve to edge past Nepal by a single run at the DXC Arena on Friday, sealing a spot in the Top End T20 series semi-finals scheduled for Sunday.
Chasing 145 for victory, Nepal appeared well-placed after taking 17 runs off Mohammad Salman’s third over in the 16th. The equation tightened as they required 37 runs from the final four overs.
Mohammad Wasim Jr conceded 10 runs each in the 17th and 19th overs, while Faisal Akram gave away nine in the 18th.
Needing eight from the last over, 22-year-old Faisal’s tight spell, conceding just six runs, helped the Shaheens secure a thrilling one-run win. Faisal, the joint top wicket-taker of the tournament with 14 scalps, finished with figures of 2-29, while Wasim also picked up two wickets.
Earlier, Shaheens, after opting to bat, stumbled to 74-7 in 12.3 overs. A crucial eighth-wicket partnership between captain Mohammad Irfan Khan and Wasim Jr added 40 runs, lifting the total to 144-9 in their 20 overs.
Wasim contributed 23 off 22 balls, with two boundaries, while Abdul Samad had earlier made 26 off 25 deliveries, including a four and a six. Irfan top-scored with an unbeaten 42 off 26 balls, striking three fours and a six, earning him the player of the match award.
For Nepal, Sompal Kami was the most successful bowler with 3-30, supported by Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav, who claimed two wickets each.
Scores in brief:
PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 144-9 in 20 overs (Mohammad Irfan Khan 42 not out, Abdul Samad 26, Mohammad Wasim Jr 23; Sompal Kami 3-30, Dipendra Singh Airee 2-15, Nandan Yadav 2-32)
NEPAL 143-7 in 20 overs (Rohit Kumar Paudel 52, Dipendra Singh Airee 41, Mahamad Asif Sheikh 27; Mohammad Wasim Jr 2-28, Faisal Akram 2-29).
Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2025