DARWIN: Northern Territory Strike beat Pakistan Shaheens by 59 runs in the opening match of the Top End T20 Series at the Gardens Oval in Darwin on Sunday afternoon.

Opting to bat first, Northern Territory Strike scored 185 for five in 20 overs. Param Uppal top-scored for his side, returning unbeaten on 59 off 28 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes.

Opening batter Josh Kann was other contributor with the bat, scoring a 31-ball 47, which included two fours and four sixes.

For Shaheens, spinners Aaliyan Mahmood and Arafat Minhas bagged two wickets apiece.

In turn, Shaheens got off to a shaky start, losing two wickets in the first two balls of their innings to right-arm fast Tom Menzies.

Opening batter Shamyl Hussain was joined by captain Rohail Nazir and the pair stitched a 49-run partnership for the third wicket. Left-handed Shamyl returned back to the hut in the eighth over after scoring 26 off 23 balls, which included two fours and a six. After Shamyl’s departure, Arafat was soon dismissed with Shaheens reeling at 62 for four in 8.5 overs.

At that stage, Mohammad Irfan Khan joined captain Rohail and the duo knitted 29 runs for the fifth wicket before the dangerous-looking Rohail got out in the 13th over after scoring 41 off 33 balls, hitting two sixes and a four.

Irfan (20 off 15) and Ahmed Khan (19 off 12) were the other notable scorers before Shaheens were bundled out for 126 in 18.4 overs.

For Northern Territory Strike, Jack Wood and Menzies took four wickets each.

Scores in brief:

NORTHERN TERRITORY STRIKE 185-5 in 20 overs (Param Uppal 59 not out, Josh Kann 47; Arafat Minhas 2-20, Aaliyan Mahmood 2-42);

PAKISTAN SHAHEENS 126 in 18.4 overs (Rohail Nazir 41, Shamyl Hussain 26, Mohammad Irfan Khan 20, Ahmed Khan 19; Tom Menzies 4-24, Jack Wood 4-28).

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2023