Saim Ayub’s all-round show helped Karachi Whites register their second win of the ongoing National T20 Cup 2026 on Monday (March 9).
The all-rounder first picked up two wickets with the ball before scoring a 33-ball 53 from the top of the order to see his side through in a rain-curtailed game against Bahawalpur in Peshawar. He had also taken two wickets and scored 33 important runs in their tournament opener against Faisalabad.
Karachi W captain Saud Shakeel sent the opposition into bat first after winning the toss. Mohammad Akram and Faizan Zafar provided a solid start to Bahawalpur, adding 54 runs together in 5.5 overs, but three quick wickets slowed them down.
Also read: Pakistan National T20 Cup 2026, all you need to know
Saim Ayub stars with both bat and ball
After Mohammad Umar removed Akram in the sixth over, Saim had No.3 Saad Khan caught in the next. Haider Ali was then run out in the eighth over, sending Bahawalpur from 54-0 to 71-3 when captain Mohammad Imran joined Faizan in the middle. The duo resurrected the innings, adding 48 runs for the fourth wicket.
Match 5, Bahawalpur vs Karachi Whites
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However, Saim, returning for his second spell, had Faizan caught just a run short of his half-century. Imran went about his job, however, hitting the Pakistan all-rounder for 24 runs in his final over of the night to spoil his figures from 2-19 after three overs to 2-43 after four. The Bahawalpur captain’s 35-ball 59 featured one four and five maximums and took the side to a competitive 185-8.
In reply, Saim Ayub, opening alongside Abdullah Fazal, was quick to get off the blocks as Karachi Whites hit 58 runs in the powerplay. Saim was the aggressor, completing his fifty off 28 deliveries and getting to 53 off 33 by the end of the ninth over, with Karachi at 78-0, 12 runs ahead of the DLS score at the stage when rain brought a premature end to the proceedings.
The Pakistan all-rounder was named the Player of the Match for his performance. The win took Karachi Whites to the top of the Group A table.
Image courtesy: PCB
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