It was a landmark day in the Cricket NL T20 Premier league as NL Eagles’ openers Abu Bakar Nabeel and Hamza Yar Khan became the first pair to register centuries in the same innings. Their partnership of 223 runs set the platform for a narrow 15 run win, but the story of the match and the round overall showed how batters dominated proceedings across the board.
Batting first, Abu Bakar struck 101 with 8 sixes and 6 fours, while Hamza compiled 104 with 11 boundaries and 4 sixes. Both fell only at the very end of the innings, Abu Bakar on the fifth ball of the 20th over and Hamza on the final delivery which ensured the Eagles had a formidable total to defend.
The chase, however, nearly overshadowed their efforts. Vinai Hingoo produced a measured 96, carrying his team deep into the contest before being run out in the closing stages. His dismissal sealed the result in the Eagles’ favour, but it highlighted how vulnerable even big totals can be in this format.
Across the other matches, the same trend was evident. Ali Raza’s 94 guided the Tigers past the Wolves, while Ranvir Rana’s 107 powered the Mavericks to victory over the Panthers. Both innings were match-winning efforts and reinforced the idea that batting depth is currently outpacing bowling quality in the league.
For the Eagles, the twin centuries from Abu Bakar and Hamza stand as a historic first. This round may well spark discussions about how teams approach their bowling resources going forward.