PESHAWAR: Abbottabad booked their place in the National T20 Cup final after defeating Lahore Whites in a rain-affected second semi-final at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Batting first, Lahore Whites scored 194-6 in their allotted 20 overs after a steady start as openers Mohammad Iqlaq and Mohammad Faiq laid a solid foundation with a brisk opening stand.
While the pair added 38 runs, Fike was dismissed by Shahab for 18 off 11 balls, including two fours and a six.
Iqlaq then continued the momentum with Mohammad Imran as the Lahore Whites crossed the 50-run mark. Imran played an aggressive innings and anchored the team with a well composed half century.
Their 64-run partnership came to an end when Iqlaq was run out by Afaq Khan when the Lahore Whites were 102-2 in 11.2 overs after scoring 42 off 35 balls, studded with 6 boundaries.
Shortly after, Imran scored a crucial 62 off 31 balls with 3 fours and 5 sixes as Shahab took his second wicket. In the same over, Dayab Tahir fell cheaply for two runs, again Shahab, as Lahore Whites were reduced to 127-4 in 13.3 overs.
Farhan Yousuf and Muhammad Mohsin then provided late impetus, adding valuable runs in the closing stages to raise the total. Mohsin scored 24 off 16 balls, including a four and 2 sixes, before Fayaz Khan was dismissed for 163-5 in 17 overs.
Shahab continued his excellent form, picking up his fourth wicket of skipper Amir Jamal for just one run.
Lahore Whites eventually posted a competitive total as Farhan remained unbeaten on 33 off 19 balls, hitting 6 fours, while Ahmed Daniel scored 5 off three balls.
Shahab was the better bowler, finishing with figures of 4/28 from his four overs, while Fayaz Khan picked up a wicket.
Abbottabad chased down 195 runs due to continuous rain.
As a result, Abbottabad finished top of the points table at the end of the group stage and advanced to the final against Karachi Whites.
For the uninitiated, the final of the National T20 Cup 2026 is scheduled to be played at the same venue on Wednesday.