Multan vs Lahore Blues: Minhas Heroics Seal Three-Run Thriller in National T20 Cup
The National T20 Cup 2026 witnessed its most exciting encounter yet when Multan Region faced Lahore Region Blues in the eighth match of the tournament at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on Tuesday March 10 2026 . In a contest that ebbed and flowed until the very last delivery, Multan vs Lahore Blues produced a finish that had fans on the edge of their seats, with Multan emerging victorious by a narrow three-run margin .
The match was a classic example of T20 cricket at its finest—big hitting, dramatic collapses, a debutant’s heroics, and nerveless death bowling under pressure. Here is the complete story of how Multan edged Lahore Blues in this unforgettable encounter.
Multan vs Lahore : Match Summary
Team Score Overs Result
- Multan Region 200/6 20 Won by 3 runs
- Lahore Region Blues 197/6 20
Multan’s Innings: Recovery and Late Fireworks
Read Also Here: Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st ODI Live Match Report 2026
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Multan’s innings got off to a shaky start. Openers Muhammad Naeem and skipper Imam-ul-Haq failed to provide the desired foundation, both departing within the first four overs. Naeem was the first to go, falling lbw to Mohammad Salman after scoring a quick 12 off seven balls, while Imam was caught by Umar Siddiq off Shahid Aziz for 13 off 11 deliveries, leaving Multan struggling at 28-2 in 3.3 overs .
The early trouble deepened when Moheer Saeed was removed by Nisar Ahmed for 12 off 10 balls, reducing Multan to 49-3 inside the powerplay . At this stage, Multan vs Lahore Blues appeared to be tilting in favor of the bowling side.
A recovery effort was led by Bismillah Khan and Muhammad Shahzad, who steadied the innings with a valuable 44-run partnership . However, Bismillah’s resistance ended when he was dismissed by Mohammad Rizwan for 27 off 23 deliveries, with the score at 93-4 in 11.5 overs .
Shahzad then found an able partner in young all-rounder Arafat Minhas, and the pair accelerated the scoring dramatically. Shahzad brought up a crucial half-century, and the duo added a brisk 54-run partnership to lift Multan’s total . Shahzad’s excellent knock came to an end when Rizwan struck again, dismissing him for 54 off 40 balls, featuring three fours and four sixes .
Minhas followed shortly afterwards, also falling to Rizwan after a scintillating 35 from just 17 deliveries, which included two fours and two sixes . At 160-6 in 18 overs, Multan needed a strong finish .
That finish came in spectacular fashion. Late fireworks from Waseem Akram and Aamer Yamin powered Multan close to the 200-run mark. The pair added 40 runs in the final two overs, with Waseem remaining unbeaten on 17 off seven balls, striking three fours, while Yamin smashed 24 off just six deliveries, hitting three fours and two sixes . For Lahore Blues, Rizwan was the standout bowler with figures of 3 for 39 in his four overs, while Nisar Ahmed, Shahid Aziz, and Muhammad Salman picked up one wicket each .
Lahore Blues’ Chase: Umar Siddiq’s Masterclass Falls Short
In reply to the challenging 201-run target, the Multan vs Lahore Blues contest became a one-man show for much of the chase. Opener Umar Siddique Khan led the charge with a magnificent 91 off just 51 balls, smashing 13 fours and three sixes in an innings of rare quality .
Lahore got off to a flier, making 64-0 in five overs, with Umar on 41 off just 19 deliveries . However, two wickets in the sixth over threatened to stall the innings. They soon became 99-4, when debutant Ali Razzaq—son of former Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq—walked out to bat .
Razzaq started cautiously, making just six in his first 10 deliveries, and was 17 off 18 at one stage, as the match seemed to slip away. At the end of the 16th over, Lahore were 147-4, still needing 54 to win in the last four. Umar, at the other end, was 85 not out off 47, but he needed support .
This is where Razzaq came to the party. He smashed the first two balls of Siraj Uddin for a six and a four, before hitting two more fours. He took 26 runs from the over, with two more sixes to finish it off. The over actually went for 28, with Siraj also bowling two wides .
However, the onslaught came too late. Razzaq, in a bid to overturn his slow start, ended up getting dismissed in the very next over, falling for a brilliant 45 off 26 balls, caught by Waseem Akram off Aamer Yamin’s bowling . Lahore could make only six runs in the 18th over, which reduced the equation to 20 off the last two overs .
The Final Over Drama
With rain falling and 11 needed off the last over, Aamer Yamin held his nerve brilliantly for Multan. He conceded only two runs off the first two deliveries with a pair of pinpoint yorkers. An overthrow off the third ball brought three runs, leaving the batting side needing six off the remaining three deliveries .
Yamin then nailed two more yorkers, allowing just a single and reducing the equation to five needed off the final ball. Facing the last delivery, Shahid Aziz—on 10 not out—could only manage a hit to long-on for a single, as Multan sealed a thrilling three-run win .
Umar Siddiq’s heroic innings finally came to an end in the penultimate over when he was caught by Muhammad Shahzad off Moheer Saeed’s bowling, departing for 91 and leaving his side just short of the target .
Key Performances
Multan Region:
- Muhammad Shahzad: 54 off 40 balls (3 fours, 4 sixes)
- Arafat Minhas: 35 off 17 balls and 2 wickets for 23 runs
- Aamer Yamin: 24 not out off 6 balls and 1 wicket for 29 runs
- Waseem Akram: 17 not out off 7 balls
- Sirajuddin: 2 wickets for 45 runs
Lahore Region Blues:
- Umar Siddiq: 91 off 51 balls (13 fours, 3 sixes)
- Ali Razzaq: 45 off 26 balls on debut (2 fours, 4 sixes)
- Mohammad Rizwan: 3 wickets for 39 runs
- Ali Razzaq’s Memorable Debut
The Multan vs Lahore Blues clash will long be remembered for the debut performance of Ali Razzaq. The son of Pakistan’s legendary all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who was a member of Pakistan’s 2009 T20 World Cup-winning team, announced himself on the domestic stage with a blistering 45 off just 26 deliveries .
Ali has already started making waves in domestic cricket, with one hundred and three fifties in nine first-class games . He was handed his T20 cap by Lahore Blues on Tuesday and despite going wicketless with the ball, his explosive batting nearly snatched victory from the jaws of defeat .
His assault on Siraj Uddin—scoring 26 runs in a single over—was the highlight of the innings and demonstrated the kind of power-hitting that made his father famous. Though he fell in the 18th over, his performance signaled the arrival of a promising new talent in Pakistani cricket .
Post-Match Reaction and Player of the Match
Aamer Yamin was named Player of the Match for his crucial all-round contribution—an unbeaten 24 off just six balls with the bat, and figures of 1-29 with the ball, including that nerveless final over under pressure . His yorkers in the dying moments, delivered despite light rain, showcased the value of experience in high-pressure situations .
Standings and Tournament Context
This victory marked Multan’s first win of the tournament after they lost their opening match against Abbottabad Region by eight wickets . For Lahore Region Blues, this was their first match of the season, having won the title in the previous season by defeating Peshawar Region by nine wickets in the final .
The win moved Multan to third place in Group B standings, while Lahore Blues remained without points from their opening fixture . Notably, both sides had met in the semi-final last season, with Lahore Blues emerging victorious by just five runs in that encounter .
Analysis by Best Pak Mag:
The Multan vs Lahore Blues encounter was a microcosm of why T20 cricket captivates audiences worldwide—it had everything. A top-order collapse, a middle-order recovery, late-order fireworks, a stunning individual knock, a debutant’s heroics, and a final over finish that went down to the last ball. For Multan, the victory demonstrates the value of all-round depth. Arafat Minhas, at just 19 years old, continues to impress with his ability to contribute significantly in both departments. His 35 off 17 and 2-23 shows why he is considered one of Pakistan’s brightest young prospects. Aamer Yamin’s nerveless final over, executed under pressure and despite rain, reflects the experience he brings to a relatively young side. For Lahore Blues, the performance of Umar Siddiq—carrying his bat through the innings with 91—and debutant Ali Razzaq’s explosive 45 provides immense encouragement despite the loss. Ali’s innings, coming after a slow start, demonstrated maturity beyond his years. The fact that he learned from his father Abdul Razzaq, a T20 World Cup winner, was evident in his clean striking. The narrow defeat will hurt, but the emergence of young talent and the competitive spirit shown bodes well for Lahore Blues’ campaign. This match also highlighted the depth of Pakistan’s domestic cricket—players like Umar Siddiq, who was the leading run-scorer last season, continue to knock on the selectors’ doors . The National T20 Cup remains the premier platform for identifying future international stars, and this Multan vs Lahore Blues clash produced several candidates.
Read More Here:
