Blues ease past Gold in National Champions Cup campaign opener

MULTAN: Skipper Sahibzada Farhan's brisk century after four-wicket hauls from Sufiyan Muqeem and Hasan Ali propelled Pakistan Blues to a resounding six-wicket victory over Pakistan Gold in the second match of the National Champions Cup 2026 here at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Set to chase a modest 213-run target, the Blues comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of four wickets and 44 balls to spare, making a triumphant start to the four-team tournament, part of Pakistan's preparations for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027.

Leading the way for the Blues was skipper Farhan, who top-scored with 102 off just 101 deliveries, studded with nine fours and two sixes.

He was supported by Mohammad Faiq and Tayyab Tahir, who contributed 30 and 35, respectively, while Rohail Nazir and Mohammad Irfan Khan eventually steered the side over the line with an unbeaten 19-run partnership.

Mohammad Imran Randhawa was the standout bowler for the Gold as he bagged two wickets for 30 runs in his 5.2 overs, while Faisal Akram and Mohammad Imran Jr could claim one apiece.

Gold's captain Shaheen Shah Afridi's decision to bat first in their campaign opener of the four-team tournament backfired, as their batting unit could only manage 212 before being bowled out in 45.3 overs, despite half-centuries from Shamyl Hussain and Kamran Ghulam.

The Gold got off to a shaky start to their innings as they lost left-handed opener Saad Khan (nine) in the fifth over with just 25 runs on the board.

Following the early setback, Ghulam joined Hussain in the middle, and the duo launched a decent recovery by putting together a 75-run partnership for the second wicket, during which the opener brought up his third List A half-century.

Muqeem eventually broke the threatening partnership in the 21st over by dismissing Hussain, who made a brisk 50 off 47 deliveries with the help of six fours and a six.

Ghulam was then involved in a brief 36-run partnership for the third wicket with Haider Ali until falling victim to Arafat Minhas in the 28th over and walked back after top-scoring with an 84-ball 63, comprising six fours and a six.

His dismissal sparked a collapse, which saw Gold losing wickets at an alarming rate, but Haider kept the scoreboard ticking singlehandedly until being caught behind off Hasan Ali in the 42nd over.

The middle-order batter remained a notable run-getter for the Gold, making a gutsy 44 off 53 deliveries, hitting three fours and a six.

With the scoreboard reading 195/7 following Haider's dismissal, the Blues' bowling attack ran through the Gold's batting tail and took the remaining three wickets for just 17 runs to round up a dominant outing.

Muqeem and experienced pacer Hasan jointly led the Blues' bowling charge, taking four wickets each, while Minhas chipped in with two scalps.