Chicago Kingsmen handed Pakistan Shaheens their second defeat of the Top End T20 Series, cruising to a 69-run win in Darwin on Tuesday.
The Shaheens, chasing a daunting 207 at the DXC Arena, faltered early and never recovered. Four wickets tumbled inside the powerplay, leaving them reeling at 28 for four. Opener Yasir Khan (38 off 32) tried to anchor the innings with five crisp boundaries, while skipper Muhammad Irfan Khan chipped in with 24. Their 43-run stand offered brief hope, but once Irfan fell in the 10th over, the batting unravelled. The Shaheens eventually limped to 137 for eight in their 20 overs.
Scott Kuggeleijn was the standout for Kingsmen, grabbing 3 for 19, while former Pakistan pacer Ehsan Adil struck twice in a tidy three-over spell.
Earlier, Kingsmen set up the win with a commanding total of 206 for five after being put in to bat. Milind Kumar played a blistering knock, smashing 74 from just 37 balls with eight fours and three sixes to earn player-of-the-match honours. Tajinder Dhillon supported him superbly with 58 off 37 deliveries, while Shayan Jahangir added a useful 30.
For the Shaheens, Mohammad Wasim Jnr was the pick of the bowlers despite going for runs, finishing with two wickets. Saad Masood and Shahid Aziz chipped in with one apiece.
The result means the Shaheens, still finding their footing in the 11-team tournament, face a crucial clash against Adelaide Strikers on Wednesday night at the same venue. A win will be key to keeping their campaign alive.
Match Summary:
- Chicago Kingsmen 206-5 (20 overs): Milind Kumar 74, Tajinder Dhillon 58, Shayan Jahangir 30; Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-57
- Pakistan Shaheens 137-8 (20 overs): Yasir Khan 38, Muhammad Irfan Khan 24, Shahid Aziz 24; Scott Kuggeleijn 3-19, Ehsan Adil 2-20
- Result: Kingsmen won by 69 runs
