Usman Khan lights up the bat as Shaheens win the Top End T20 series for the first time.

Usman Khan lights up the bat as Shaheens win the Top End T20 series for the first time

In the first match of the Top End T20 series 2024, Pakistan Shaheens defeated Perth Scorchers by a score of 17 runs on Saturday at the DXC Arena in Darwin.

The Scorchers' hitters, Teague Wyllie (4, 5b, 1x4) and Sam Fanning (13, 11b, 2x4s), went out in the third and fourth overs, respectively, while trying to reach the 189-run mark.

A 58-run fourth-wicket partnership between Joel Curtis (17, 21b, 1x4) and Corey Wasley (54, 27b, 6x4s, 3x6s) troubled the Shaheens bowling assault and was eventually broken in the 11th over by legspinner Arif Yaqoob.

The aggressive Wasley was also removed by Jahandad Khan in the next over, leaving the Scorchers needing 96 runs in 51 balls. Before Baxter Holt was removed by Mohammad Abbas Afridi in the 16th over, he and Keaton Critchell (24, 18b, 2x4s, 1x6) shared a 33-run partnership at the fifth wicket. Holt had hit the boundary at regular intervals during their partnership.

After leaving the field for 24 off 18 after hitting two fours and a six, Matthew Spoors, who was undefeated for 27 off 15 balls and had hit five fours, was unable to help the Scorchers, who were now 17 runs behind.

Mohammad Imran Jr. and Arif each claimed one wicket, while Abbas and Jahandad claimed two wickets apiece.

Earlier, Usman Khan's 35-ball 57 helped the Pakistan Shaheens record a competitive total of 188-7 in the allowed 20 overs after they elected to bat first. Usman, batting at four, entered the bat at the conclusion of the powerplay. He managed to keep the Shaheens innings together with four boundaries and three sixes in this session.

Despite losing Tayyab Tahir (5, 11b, 1x4) and Haseebullah (12, 10b, 2x4s) in the process, Shaheens amassed 47 runs during the field limitations. In the eighth over, Sahibzada Farhan also left the field, leaving Shaheens at 58-3 after 7.3 overs.

Before the captain, Mohammad Haris (25, 19b, 3x4s), and Usman fell victim to Keaton Critchell in the 13th over, they built together a 45-run stand off 28 balls at the fourth wicket.

After Mohammad Irfan Khan left after just two balls off the bat in the next over, Arafat Minhas produced a spectacular cameo, scoring 31 runs off of 16 balls while hitting three fours and one six.

After Usman and Arafat fell off the field one after the other, Mohammad Abbas Afridi (12 not out, 3b) hit two sixes in the final over to give Shaheens a strong end to the innings. Matthew Spoors took three wickets for the Socrchers, while Luke Holt, Lucas Martin, Jhye Richardson, and Critchell each claimed one.

The second game tomorrow will pit Melbourne Stars against Pakistan Shaheens.

Quick scores

Shaheens of Pakistan won by 17 runs.

Shaheens of Pakistan 188-7, 20 overs (Matthew Spoors 354; Usman Khan 57, Sahibzada Farhan 36, Arafat Minhas 31, Mohammad Haris 25).

Corey Wasley (54, Matthew Spoors (27), Keaton Critchell (24), Baxter Holt (24), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (2-32), Jahandad Khan (2-42), Perth Scorchers 171-6, 20 overs