On Monday evening at the TIO Stadium in Darwin, Abdul Samad produced a scintillating unbeaten 110 off just 63 balls to guide Pakistan Shaheens to a comprehensive 73-run victory over the Melbourne Renegades in the Top End T20 Series.
The win marked the Shaheens’ second triumph in the tournament, demonstrating their batting depth and resilience after early setbacks. Pakistan Shaheens will now prepare to take on the Chicago Kingsmen in their next fixture on Tuesday, with the first ball scheduled for 1:00 pm local time.
The match got off to a rocky start for Pakistan Shaheens as they lost both openers for ducks in the very first over, leaving them at 2-2. Samad, however, walked in confidently and immediately set about stabilizing the innings. He first stitched together a 32-run partnership with Mohammad Faiq, who contributed 21 runs off 18 balls with two boundaries and a six, before Faiq fell in the seventh over. Maaz Sadaqat followed in the 10th over as the Shaheens found themselves in trouble at 55-4.
It was then that Samad and captain Muhammad Irfan Khan forged a match-turning 109-run partnership. Samad dominated the strike with an aggressive display, hitting six fours and six sixes during his unbeaten stay, while Irfan provided valuable support, scoring a run-a-ball 23 with one four and a six. Their partnership propelled the Shaheens to a formidable total of 178-5 in their allotted 20 overs.
In response, the Renegades struggled to build momentum. After an initial promising start of 25-1, the team collapsed to 66-8, with only opener Josh Brown offering any resistance, scoring 36 off 30 balls with five fours and a six. None of the top eight batters reached double figures, leaving the lower order, including Xavier Crone (11), Callum Stow (15), and Michael Archer (14 not out), to push the total past 100 runs. Ultimately, Renegades were bowled out for 105 in 19.2 overs.
Pakistan Shaheens’ bowling unit put on a disciplined performance, with Maaz Sadaqat taking 3 wickets for 22 runs in four overs and Faisal Akram supporting with 2-19, following up his five-wicket haul from the previous match.
Mubasir Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Ubaid Shah, and Saad Masood chipped in with a wicket apiece. Abdul Samad’s match-winning century earned him the Player of the Match award, highlighting his pivotal role in the victory.
With this win, Pakistan Shaheens now hold two wins from three matches in the Top End T20 Series, having previously defeated their opponents by 79 runs on August 14, suffered a two-wicket loss to Perth Scorchers on August 16, and now beat the Melbourne Renegades convincingly.
Their next fixtures include clashes against the Chicago Kingsmen on August 19 and Strikers on August 20, followed by a match against Nepal on August 22. The Shaheens have shown a mix of explosive batting and disciplined bowling, signaling their intent to dominate the tournament.
