A Show-Stopping Knock
Abdul Samad turned a shaky start into a show-stopping century in the Top End T20 Series 2025 at Darwin. The young batter smashed an unbeaten 110 off 63 balls, powering Pakistan Shaheens to a 73-run win over Melbourne Renegades Academy.
Match Summary at a Glance
• Pakistan Shaheens: 178/5 (20 overs)
  • Abdul Samad 110* (63), Irfan Khan Niazi 23 (23)
• Melbourne Renegades Academy: 105 all out (19.2 overs)
  • Josh Brown 36 (30), Maaz Sadaqat 3/22
• Result: Shaheens won by 73 runs
From Collapse to Control
Shaheens stumbled early. Both openers — Khawaja Nafay and Yasir Khan — fell inside two overs. Soon after, Mohammad Faiq (21) and Maaz Sadaqat (4) also departed, leaving the Shaheens wobbling at 55/4.
Enter Abdul Samad with skipper Irfan Khan Niazi offering support, the pair rebuilt the innings with a steady 109-run stand for the fifth wicket. By the final over, the Shaheens had turned disaster into dominance, finishing on a strong 178/5.
Abdul Samad Century: Power Meets Patience
Samad’s century was pure controlled aggression — 6 sixes, 6 fours, strike rotation, and zero recklessness. A defining knock of the Top End T20 2025 so far.
It wasn’t just about the big hits — it was about carrying the innings when his team needed him most. By the end, he walked off unbeaten, having played what might be the defining knock of the tournament so far.
Renegades Never Found Their Rhythm
Chasing 179, the Renegades fell apart early. Ubaid Shah removed Harry Dixon cheaply, while Maaz Sadaqat (3/22) ripped through the top order.
Josh Brown’s 36 gave the Aussies a glimmer of hope, but once Faisal Akram had Josh Brown caught, the rest of the innings unravelled. The Renegades were bundled out for 105 in under 20 overs, with every Shaheens bowler chipping in.
What’s Next for the Shaheens
This victory pushes Pakistan Shaheens to second place on the points table, keeping them in a strong position for the knockouts.
Their next fixtures are:
• Aug 19: vs Chicago Kingsmen
• Aug 20: vs Adelaide Strikers Academy
• Aug 22: vs Nepal
The semi-finals and final will be played on August 24. And if Abdul Samad keeps batting like this, the Shaheens could be serious title contenders.
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