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MULTAN: Shaheen Shah Afridi produced a match-winning bowling performance as Pakistan Gold defeated Pakistan Whites by five wickets to book their place in the National Champions Cup 2026 final at Multan Cricket Stadium. Chasing 173, Gold reached their target in just 28 overs, although they lost five wickets along the way. Haider Ali led the chase with an impressive 69 off 48 balls, smashing seven fours and three sixes in an aggressive innings. The victory was particularly striking because Gold had entered the match after suffering two defeats and sitting at the bottom of the table. Their superior net run rate, however, kept their qualification hopes alive, and they capitalised when it mattered most. Gold faced early trouble during the chase, slipping to 61-3 after 10 overs. Haider then steadied the innings alongside Kamran Ghulam, who contributed 30 from 26 deliveries, including four boundaries. Saad Khan also played a valuable supporting role, scoring a patient 33 off 55 balls as Gold moved steadily towards victory. Mohammad Wasim claimed two wickets for Whites, but his efforts were not enough to stop the chase. Earlier, Whites were bowled out for 172 in 41.4 overs after choosing to bat first. Gold’s bowlers immediately put their opponents under pressure, reducing Whites to 26-2 inside the opening 10 overs. Shahzaib Khan fell for two while Haseebullah Khan managed only three. The situation worsened as Usman Khan was dismissed for three and Saim Ayub departed after scoring 30, leaving Whites struggling at 45-4 in 14.5 overs. Hasan Nawaz provided some resistance, scoring a determined 55 off 74 balls with three fours and two sixes. His efforts helped Whites cross the 150-run mark, but the lower order could not carry the innings further. Shaheen led Gold’s attack with three wickets, while Faisal Akram claimed two. The National Champions Cup is being staged in Multan from August 11 to 18 as part of Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic season and preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Match 6 – Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold beat UOL Pakistan Whites by five wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium Pakistan Whites 172 all out, 41.4 overs (Hasan Nawaz 55, Saim Ayub 28, Saad Masood 20; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-26, Mubasir Khan 2-29, Faisal Akram 2-48) Pakistan Gold 173-5, 28 overs (Haider Ali 69 not out, Saad Khan 33, Kamran Ghulam 30; Mohammad Wasim Jnr) Player of the match – Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan Gold) Tournament schedule: (All matches at Multan Cricket Stadium; All matches to begin at 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 beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets 18 August – Final (Pakistan Greens v Pakistan Gold)

LONDON: England all-rounder Will Jacks produced a moment of breathtaking athleticism during The Hundred 2026, pulling off an extraordinary catch that left spectators and commentators stunned at Lord’s. The remarkable effort came during the clash between London Spirit and MI London, when South African batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius launched a powerful shot towards long-off. Pretorius, who had just brought up his half-century, appeared to have found the boundary with the lofted strike. But Jacks had other plans. Standing close to the boundary, Jacks timed his jump perfectly and managed to prevent the ball from clearing the ropes. With incredible awareness, he knocked the ball back into play while making sure his feet did not touch the boundary line. What happened next turned an already impressive piece of fielding into something extraordinary. Jacks quickly returned into the field, threw himself into a full-length dive and completed the catch with one hand. The entire sequence happened in a matter of seconds, leaving both the crowd and commentators struggling to believe what they had witnessed. The stunning effort quickly became one of the talking points of the match, with video footage spreading rapidly across social media. Fans praised Jacks for combining athleticism, awareness and remarkable hand-eye coordination in a single piece of fielding. Boundary catches are often difficult enough because players must balance their movements while keeping their feet away from the rope. Jacks’ effort was even more impressive because he first had to save the ball from going for six before returning to complete the catch. Commentators hailed the effort as an unbelievable catch, while fans began sharing replays of the moment online. The spectacular dismissal provided another reminder of the increasingly athletic standard of modern short-format cricket, where a single moment of brilliance in the field can change the momentum of a game. For Jacks, however, the catch was more than just a highlight. It was a stunning display of awareness, agility and courage — and one that could easily go down as one of The Hundred’s standout fielding moments of the season.