Jahandad Khan’s All-round Performance Power Shaheens to White-Ball Series Opening Win
Jahandad Khan’s All-round Performance Power Shaheens to White-Ball Series Opening Win: Pakistan Shaheens began the white-ball leg of their Darwin tour on a winning note, defeating Northern Territory Strike by four wickets in a thrilling 50-over match on Sunday at the Gardens Oval in Darwin. The victory was driven by stellar performances from Mubasir Khan and Jahandad Khan, who played pivotal roles with both bat and ball.
Mubasir and Jahandad were instrumental in dismantling the Northern Territory Strike’s batting lineup, sharing seven wickets between them. The duo then joined forces for a crucial 18-run partnership for the seventh wicket, ensuring Shaheens successfully chased down the 143-run target despite a mid-innings wobble.
Shaheens stumbled to 94-5 in their pursuit, but Mubasir’s composed innings of 32 not out (72 balls, 3 fours) anchored the chase. He remained steadfast at one end after walking in at 56-3, guiding his team to victory.
Shaheens’ innings began with an early loss as Haseebullah was dismissed for two runs. However, Sahibzada Farhan (30 off 32 balls, 4 fours) and Usman Khan (20 off 22 balls, 3 fours) steadied the innings with a 52-run second-wicket partnership. Matt Hammond struck twice in the 10th over, dismissing Usman and skipper Mohammad Haris (0), putting Shaheens under pressure.
Contributions from Muhammad Irfan Khan (21 off 28 balls, 2 fours) and Arafat Minhas (18 off 27 balls, 2 fours) helped stabilize the innings. In the end, Jahandad’s 10 not out (1 four) alongside Mubasir ensured Shaheens crossed the finish line in the 36th over. For Northern Territory Strike, Hammond was the standout bowler with figures of 2-29. Caelan Maladay, Lachlan Bangs, Charlie Smith, and Connor Carroll each picked up one wicket.
Earlier, NT Strike, opting to bat first after winning the toss, struggled against Shaheens’ disciplined bowling attack. Openers Carroll and Jacob Dickman fell within three overs to Mohammad Imran Jnr and Jahandad Khan. Jahandad continued to trouble the hosts, claiming the wicket of Harshtik Bimbral (7) to leave NT Strike reeling at 19-3.
Spinners Mubasir Khan and Faisal Akram then took charge, with Mubasir dismissing Bangs (10) and Faisal removing Cadell Mcmahon (9), reducing NT Strike to 69-5. Jagadeswara Koduru, the top-scorer with 59 (80 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes), and Hammond (22 off 51 balls) offered some resistance with a 40-run sixth-wicket partnership before Mubasir broke through, dismissing Hammond in the 36th over.
NT Strike’s tail managed to push the total to 142, with Maladay (15) and Nicholas Fleming (11) contributing vital runs. Jahandad ended with impressive figures of 4-26 from 8.1 overs, while Mubasir took 3-18 in his nine overs. Imran Jnr (1-16 from 10 overs) and Faisal (1-33) also chipped in with wickets.
Pakistan Shaheens will face Bangladesh ‘A’ in their next 50-over match on Tuesday.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan Shaheens won by four wickets
Northern Territory Strike 142 all out, 46.1 overs (Jagadeswara Koduru 59, Matt Hammond 22; Jahandad Khan 4-26, Mubasir Khan 3-18)
Pakistan Shaheens 143-6, 35.1 overs (Mubasir Khan 32 not out, Sahibzada Farhan 30, Muhammad Irfan Khan 21, Usman Khan 20; Matt Hammond 2-29)
