ISLAMABAD: Stallions had the better of Dolphins to come back to winning ways, taking the match by just five runs while Panthers crushed Markhors by six wickets in Friday’s fixtures of the Champions T20 Cup here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.

With the victory Stallions are now top of the five-team table with three wins in four matches, accumulating six points. Mark­hors suffered their first loss but were still second with six points in four matches.

Young Ubaid Shah held his nerves to defend 14 off the final over and despite being hit for a six by Salman Irshad came out with flying colours, conceding eight runs to give Stallions victory. Dolphins managed to score 185-9 in 20 overs.

Chasing a big 191 for victory, Dolphins were treated well on tough waters as Sahibzada Farhan, who scored a brisk 59 off 38 balls with six boundaries and two sixes held the innings.

Qasim Akram was good in support with a rapid 24-ball 37, spiced with two sixes and four boundaries. Together they added 46 off 27 balls.

When skipper Faheem Ashraf came to the cre­a­se, Dolphins needed 51 runs in 4.1 overs. Left-hand batter Faheem cracked two sixes and a four in his 12-ball 25 but in the end his runs were not enough.

For Stallions, spinners Usman Tariq (2-22) and Mehran Mumtaz (2-32) checked the run chase, while pacer Mohammad Ali finished with 2-34.

Earlier, all-rounder Hussain Talat kept his good form intact, scoring 57 not out off just 34 balls.

His knock included two sixes and five boundaries. Hussain added a good 109 runs off just 56 balls with Mohammad Mohsin.

Mohsin’s eye-catching knock of 55 came off 32 balls which contained four boundaries and as many sixes. The duo smashed a big 65 runs in the last five overs. Leg-spinner Mohammad Ramiz Jr was the pick of bowlers with 2-29.

In the second match, Haider Ali smashed a 29-ball 62 to help Panthers chase a 164-run target in 18.5 overs. Haider smashed five sixes and four boundaries in an eye-catching knock.

Umar Siddiq (30) and Sharjeel Khan (23) laid the foundation with an opening stand of 52. Haider and Mubasir Khan furthered the chase with a third wicket stand of 65. Haider hit the winning six to seal the match.

The Markhors’ total of 163-8 saw Saad Masood play an anchor’s role with a 39-ball 63 not out. His innings was laced with two sixes and six boundaries.

Saad lifted his team from a precarious 7-70 as he kept the scoreboard ticking, adding 35 for the eighth wicket with Nisar Ahmed (21) and another invaluable 58 for the ninth wicket with Akif Javed who made only six. Nisar cracked two sixes in his 10-ball 21.

Scores in brief:

Stallions beat Dolphins by five runs

STALLIONS 190-4 in 20 overs (Hussain Talat 57 not out, Mohammad Mohsin 55, Yasir Khan 36; Mohammad Ramiz Jnr 2-29); DOLPHINS 185-9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 59, Qasim Akram 37, Faheem Ashraf 25; Usman Tariq 2-22, Mehran Mumtaz 2-32, Mohammad Ali 2-34)

Panthers beat Markhors by six wickets

MARKHORS 163-8 in 20 overs (Saad Masood 63 not out, Abdul Samad 24; Usama Mir 2-14); PANTHERS 169-4 in 18.5 overs (Haider Ali 62 not out, Mubasir Khan 32, Umar Siddiq 30; Mohammad Imran Jr 2-17).

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2024