Mohammad Rizwan’s decision to put Northern into bat and chase the target in the first semifinal almost paid off. However, Haris Rauf had other ideas. He defended 8 off the last over, taking 4 wickets in the process, including a run-out and send Northern into the Final of the National T20 Cup.

Northern innings didn’t get off to a great start as they lost Ali Imran and Sohail Akhtar cheaply. Rohail Nazir started off where he left last night, but eventually went for 21, caught at deep extra cover. 

Umar Amin played a crucial knock of 43 and Asif Ali’s 28 was important as it took Northern to 148 and gave their bowlers a total to bowl at. However, Shadab’s two sixes in the penultimate over is what KPK will see when they look back at the scorecard. 

The chase didn’t start well as Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed in the very first over and Rizwan’s uncomfortable stay at the crease was ended by Amir when he inside-edged on to his wickets for 16 off 15 deliveries. 

Fakhar Zaman and Iftikhar looked like they will take KPK home, but Fakhar (39) threw his wicket away giving an easy catch to Nawaz at long-off. Khushdil Shah was coming back off a match-winning performance yesterday and looked set to win another game for KPK. 

KPK batsman were looking in a hurry to finish the game and that was the undoing for them. They all gave their wickets away trying to hit out of the park. The experienced Iftikhar (53) should have seen out the game when KPK needed 8 off the last over but his eye for glory got the better off him as Haris Rauf got his revenge for an earlier over, where he was hit for 3 boundaries in an over by Iftikhar. 

Haris was deservedly named player of the match for a breathtaking last over, where he only conceded 4 runs - two of which were wides and in return got 4 wickets (including a run out). A special mention to Usman Shinwari who had to end on a losing team after his 5/13.