National T20: Shehzad’s record ton helps Central Punjab register first win

Opener Ahmed Shehzad record setting 111-run knock helped Central Punjab to a convincing victory against Northern on Tuesday, as he became the first Pakistan batsman to score five centuries in shortest format of the game.

The 27-year-old’s inspiring knock came off just 63 balls, which included 13 fours and three sixes which helped his side secure a four wicket win over Northern in the fifth fixture of the ongoing National T20 Cup at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium. This was also a record T20 chase in Pakistan.

The record was previously held by Lahore Eagles after they chased a target of 211 runs against Sialkot Stallions in 2005.

Another noticeable performance came from middle-order batsman Saad Nasim’s bat scoring 29 from 20 balls with three fours and a six. All-rounder Faheem Ashraf smacked two sixes and a four in his 28, which came off 16 balls.

Northern’s captain Imad Wasim was the pick of the bowlers with three for 38.

Northern had set 222 for six in 20 overs – after deciding to bat - courtesy of Asif Ali’s blistering knock of 93 off 35 balls with four fours and 10 sixes.

All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz scored 51 off 35 balls as the pair stitched a 107-run partnership for the third-wicket.

Faheem took three wickets for 44 runs, while pacers Waqas Maqsood, Nasim Shah and leg-spinner Usman Qadir took a wicket each.