KARACHI: It was the night of the underdogs at the National Stadium on Sunday when Peshawar Panthers added a new chapter in the Pakistan T20 cricket history by annexing their maiden national title after outgunning Lahore Lions in a lacklustre final.

The Lions never had the chance to roar after they were restricted to 133-9 by resourceful bowling and equally fine fielding that the Panthers put up after Azhar Ali won the toss and decided to bat first on a fine pitch favouring stroke-play.

The Panthers rode on the electrifying foundation provided by Riffatullah Mohmand (26 off 13 balls, four fours and one six) and Israrullah (20 off 14, five boundaries) as the openers between them struck nine boundaries and one six while putting on 43 in the first four overs.

Riffatullah might have gone had Mohammad Irfan not parried the ball over the deep square leg fence for a six when the veteran opener pulled Mohammad Aftab, the young left-arm seamer who had a forgetful evening.

Aftab, hero of the Lions’ triumph against Multan Tigers on Saturday with four wickets, was all over the place as he conceded seven fours and one six in giving 43 runs in three overs.

After the openers departed in successive overs, Iftikhar Ahmed and Adil Amin ensured the title would be Panthers’ as they together forged a fine almost run-a-ball partnership of 82 (in 83 balls).

Iftikhar controlled the innings beautifully with a mixture of aggression with good placing in shot selection. His unbeaten 50 from 44 balls contained four boundaries and a straight six off Azhar Ali.

Adil struck four fours in his 43-ball innings of 33 before Iftikhar, fittingly, hit the winning run to complete his fourth T20 half century.

Iftikhar and Taj Wali were declared joint recipients of the man-of-the-match award after match referee Anwer Khan found the pair inseparable after both made telling contributions in the biggest game of their lives.

Taj, the 23-year-old left-arm seamer who specially got his hair streaked, claimed career-best figures of three for 30.

The Lions’ miserable evening was compounded when Kamran Akmal -- who was declared player-of-the-tournament – had to leave the field in the 11th over with a shoulder injury; Abid Ali took the wicket-keeping duties but the result was never in doubt.

The Panthers received the winners’ award of Rs2 million with the Lions getting Rs1 million. Asad Shafiq of Karachi Dolphins was adjudged the best batsman, Imran Khan Junior made a dream entry into the mainstream of Pakistan domestic cricket by being named best bowler of the competition. The best all-rounder award went to Mukhtar Ahmed of Sialkot Stallions

Mukhtar, Imran Khan Junior, Imam, Mohammad Imran Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Adil Amin were among 10 players announced by chief selector Moin Khan to attend a 10-day workshop from Monday at the National Cricket Academy.

Earlier, the Lions made a sluggish beginning. Kamran Akmal, fresh from his 77 against the Tigers the other evening, looked completely off colour. After making a scratchy four off 11 balls, the experienced Pakistan player was caught behind off Taj who had dismissed the other opener, Abid Ali, with the previous delivery of that same fifth over of the innings.

Abid made 23 from 17 balls with three fours and one six. The only innings of substance was played by Imam-ul-Haq. The 18-year-old left-hander, a nephew of former Pakistan captain and batting legend Inzamam-ul-Haq, reached a maiden half-century despite finding not much support from the other end. Imam was left high and dry on 52 with his 41-ball containing six fours.

Before the teams took the field, the national anthem was played with the stadium providing a hollowed outlook because the arena was virtually empty and as the game progressed the gathering had swelled to 10,000 – easily the biggest turnout of the 12-day event.

Scoreboard

LAHORE LIONS:

Kamran Akmal c Rizwan b Taj 4 Abid Ali c Gauhar b Taj 22 Imam-ul-Haq not out 52 Azhar Ali c Fayyaz b Iftikhar 17 Fahad-ul-Haq run out 1 Akhlaq Ahmed c Riffatullah b Imran Jr 6
Tanzeel Altaf b Taj 11 Mohammad Irfan run out 5 Mohammad Aftab b Imran Jr 0 Emmad Ali run out 0 Qaiser Ashraf not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-7, NB-4) 12

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 20 overs) 133

FALL OF WKTS: 1-29, 2-29, 3-67, 4-68, 5-91, 6-105, 7-124, 8-125, 9-125.

BOWLING: Taj Wali Mohammad Imran Khan Zohaib Khan 4-0-26-0 (2w); Iftikhar Ahmed Imran Khan Junior

PESHAWAR PANTHERS:

Riffatullah Mohmand lbw b Irfan 26 Israrullah lbw b Qaiser 20 Iftikhar Ahmed not out 50 Adil Amin b Irfan 33 Gauhar Ali not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-3) 4

TOTAL (for three wkts, 19.2 overs) 134

FALL OF WKTS: 1-43, 2-47, 3-129.

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Fayyaz, Zohaib Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Imran Khan, Imran Khan Junior, Taj Wali.

BOWLING: Mohammad Aftab 3-0-43-0 (3w); Emmad Ali 1-0-12-0; Qaiser Ashraf 4-0-20-1; Mohammad Irfan 4-0-22-2; Tanzeel Altaf 4-0-18-0; Azhar Ali 3.2-0-18-0.

RESULT: Peshawar Panthers won by seven wickets.

UMPIRES: Ahsan Raza and Shozab Raza.

TV UMPIRE: Ahmed Shahab.

MATCH REFEREE: Anwer Khan.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Taj Wali and Iftikhar Ahmed (joint).

MAN-OF-THE-TOURNAMENT: Kamran Akmal.

Published in Dawn, September 29th, 2014