Half centuries from Qasim, Shoaib keeps Central Punjab's hopes alive.

MULTAN -- Central Punjab kept their hopes of semi-final in the Kingdom Valley National T20 Cup 2022-23 alive by registering a six-wickets win over Northern during 27th match of the tournament played at the Multan Cricket Stadium here on Friday.

Central Punjab have now played all of their ten matches of which they won five and lost five finishing with ten points.

They are tied on points with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, but Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had played only eight games, while Balochistan have featured in nine games so far in the tournament. Sindh have also played all of their games and have finished with 10 points.

Chasing 163 to win, half-centuries from young all-rounder Qasim Akram and an unbeaten half-century from experienced Shoaib Malik helped Central Punjab to achieve the target with 12 balls to spare.

Central Punjab lost three wickets in the powerplay with 51 runs on the board when Shoaib joined his captain Qasim. The pair knitted a 103-run partnership for the fourth wicket off 70 balls. Qasim was dismissed in the 18th over not before scoring a 37-ball 58, studded with eight fours.

Shoaib spanked two sixes and smashed six fours and returned undefeated on 62 from 39 balls.

Qasim and Shoaib for their respective match-winning innings were jointly declared player of the...