Rivaj Pakistan Greens continued their unbeaten run in the Al Batal Presents University of Lahore National Champions Cup 2026-27 with an emphatic 192-run win over Al Batal Pakistan Blues at Multan Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Right-handed batter Mohammad Suleman struck an unbeaten 101, his second List A century, while half-centuries from Saad Baig and Farhan Yousuf propelled Greens to 302-6 in 50 overs, their second consecutive score of 300 or more. In reply, Blues collapsed after Faheem Ashraf took three wickets across the sixth, eighth, and tenth overs, with Mohammad Hasnain adding two more in the 14th to all but seal the match. Blues were bowled out for 110 in 23.5 overs, falling 192 runs short.
Al Batal Pakistan Blues finish the league stage with just one win from three games, and will now need Pakistan Gold to beat Pakistan Whites by a substantial margin to have any chance of qualifying for the final.
On Sunday, second-placed Pakistan Whites take on fourth-placed Pakistan Gold, needing a win to confirm their place in the final, or a loss narrow enough not to drag their net run rate of -0.002 below Blues’ -1.093.
Earlier, Greens won the toss and chose to bat first, with Suleman coming in for the rested Fakhar Zaman and Arshad Iqbal replacing Naseem Shah, both left out after their side had already secured a final berth. The opening pair of Omair Bin Yousuf (33) and Sameer Minhas (17) added 39 runs off 58 balls before Arafat struck to remove his own brother.
Suleman batted fluently, anchoring the innings with a 135-run third-wicket stand alongside Saad Baig (77), who registered his fourth fifty in the format. A further brisk 90-run partnership with Farhan Yousuf (51) carried Greens from 200-3 in 35.1 overs to 290 by the 48.1-over mark. For Blues, Hasan Ali took two wickets, while Mohammad Faiq, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, and Sufyan Moqim picked up one apiece.
Chasing the target, Blues lost Maaz Sadaqat in the second over, run out by Arshad Iqbal. Faheem then began the collapse, removing Sahibzada Farhan (19) before also accounting for Mohammad Faiq (18), both of whom had started well. He returned later to dismiss Muhammad Irfan Khan for two, while Shadab removed Tayyab Tahir for 14, leaving Blues reeling at 58-5 after 12.4 overs. A 30-run stand between Arafat Minhas (38) and Hasan Ali offered some late resistance, helping Blues cross the three-figure mark. Hasnain accounted for Taimur Khan and Ahmed Daniyal, while Mohammad Salman Mirza also picked up two wickets, with Shadab and Mehran taking one each, as Blues folded for 110 in 23.5 overs.
Scores in Brief
Match 5 — Rivaj Pakistan Greens beat Al Batal Productions Pakistan Blues by 192 runs at Multan Cricket Stadium
Pakistan Greens 302-6, 50 overs (Mohammad Suleman 101 not out, Saad Baig 77, Farhan Yousaf 51, Omair Bin Yousuf 33; Hasan Ali 2-37)
Pakistan Blues 110 all out, 23.5 overs (Arafat Minhas 38; Faheem Ashraf 3-14, Mohammad Salman Mirza 2-23, Mohammad Hasnain 2-24)
Player of the Match — Mohammad Suleman (Pakistan Greens)
Tournament Schedule (All matches at Multan Cricket Stadium, starting 3pm)
11 August — Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets
12 August — Pakistan Blues beat Pakistan Gold by six wickets
13 August — Pakistan Whites beat Pakistan Blues by six runs
14 August — Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Gold by 128 runs
15 August — Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Blues by 192 runs
16 August — Pakistan Gold v Pakistan Whites
18 August — Final (Top two teams)
