Fakhar Zaman's 68 helps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rout Southern Punjab.

LAHORE -- A blazing 34-ball 68 from Fakhar Zaman orchestrated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's fifth win of the National T20 Cup as they recorded a comprehensive 73-run win over Southern Punjab at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.

The left-handed opener stroked his third half-century of the tournament before Musadiq Ahmed blasted 33 runs from nine balls to lift Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to an imposing 205 for four. Following Shan Masood's decision to bowl first, Fakhar provided Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a solid start. The 30-year-old smashed as many as 11 fours and two sixes over the course of an innings during which he put a 71-run partnership for the second wicket with Mohammad Hafeez, who made 17 runs from 20 balls. Fakhar set Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's innings alight in the fifth over, which yielded 19 runs, by smashing Ali Shafiq for three fours and a six.

Reflecting on his innings, Fakhar said: 'As a batsman you wish to score in every match but I am glad that I have picked form at the right time. I am enjoying my run in the tournament. The pitches in Rawalpindi are providing quality contests. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were well positioned at 99 for one when Fakhar was caught by Hussain Talat off Mohammad Ilyas ball on the penultimate ball of the 10th over. Hafeez followed him back two balls later, which plummeted Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's scoring rate as the next 3.5 overs added only 24 runs to their total.

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Iftikhar Ahmed struck four sixes in his 22-ball 36 before getting dismissed on the second ball of the 18th over by Ilyas, who finished with 43 for two. Musadiq, who replaced Iftikhar, raced to 20 runs from the next four deliveries as he smashed six, six, four and four. That over brought 21 runs - the most in the innings for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The 31-year-old hit a six and a four more before returning not out on 33.

He partnered with Shoaib Malik (33 not out off 28, one...