A ruthless attack from the Lahore Eagles’ bowling attack enabled the team to come out on top in their Group B clash with the Peshawar Panthers in the ongoing Faysal Bank T-20 Cup, leading them to claim a 76-run win over the Panthers in their match at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground on Monday.
The Panthers won the toss and put the Eagles to bat first, with Waqar Ahmed (4-0-36-3) and Mohammad Aslam (4-0-25-2) doing their utmost to keep the opposition’s batsmen in check. While they succeeded, for the most part, opener Imran Farhat defied the Panthers’ bowlers for nearly 14 overs, remaining fixed at the crease and top-scored for the team with 68 off 45, including 10 boundaries.
Skipper Taufeeq Umar (18) managed to join Farhat for a 43-run opening partnership, after which he was bowled by Azizullah, but his successor Azhar Ali (26) proved a more effective partner, and teamed up with Farhat for a 76-run stand for the second wicket.Their combined efforts got the Eagles’ score up to 119, after which both batsmen were dismissed in the 14th over by Mohammad Aslam.
Middle-order batsmen Usman Salahuddin (14) and Raza Ali Dar (13) managed to surpass single-digits, and the remainder of the batting line-up – comprising Asif Raza (5*), Saad Nasim (4), Junaid Zia (0), Adnan Akmal (1), and Babar Azam (1) – chipped in with minor contributions. By the end of 20 overs, with 8 wickets down, the Lahore Eagles posted a final total of 162.
Only four of the Panthers’ batsmen succeeded in sticking it out at the crease. Israrullah (22) top-scored for the team, while Mohammad Rizwan (15), Zohaib Ahmed (17), and Azizullah (10) chipped in with small scores. The rest of the batsmen were unable to face up to the Eagles’ bowling attack, and by the end of 20 overs, with 8 wickets down, the Panthers were cut off at 86, with the Eagles going on to secure an emphatic 76-run win.
Stags secure narrow 2-wicket win: A close-fought match between the Bahawalpur Stags and the Karachi Dolphins culminated in a 2-wicket win for the Stags in their Group B match during the ongoing Faysal Bank T-20 Cup, played at the Bagh-e-Jinnah in Lahore, today on December 3.
The Stags won the toss and chose to field first, with Mohammad Talha (4-0-43-3) and Ataullah (4-0-17-2) going on to lead the team’s attack. The Dolphins, on their part, put up an average batting display. Opener Shahzaib Hasan (11) made an early exit in the second over, at the hands of Mohammad Talha, but his fellow opening batsman Khurram Manzoor (13) went on to set up a 51-run second wicket stand with wicketkeeper batsman Amin-ur-Rehman (44), who remained the top-scorer for the team.
However, the innings was steadied, to a considerable degree, by Fawad Alam (43) and Khalid Latif (29*), both of whom joined forces for a 66-run stand for the fifth wicket. The partnership was eventually broken up with the dismissal of Fawad Alam off Mohammad Talha in the 19th over, who followed it up in the very same over with the wicket of Dolphins’ skipper Shahid Afridi, on duck.
By this point, the team was at 142 for 6, and some final contributions from Latif and Tanvir Ahmed (2*) led their team up to a final total of 152 by the end of 20 overs, at the expense of 6 wickets.
The Stags’ batsmen did not fare any better, but a series of small contributions eventually got the team over the finish line, despite the efforts of Afridi (4-0-16-2), and Misbah Khan, Tanvir Ahmed, and Mohammad Sami, all of whom picked up one wicket each.
Opener Imranullah Aslam top-scored with 48, while Kamran Hussain (18), Usman Tariq (18), Hamid Ali (15), and Moinuddin (14) chipped in with minor contributions. The Stags narrowly made it up to 153 and secured their victory.
In the other matches: Abbottabad Falcons beat Islamabad by two wickets, Islamabad Leopards 116/8 and Abbottabad Falcons 120/8 (19.5/20 ov), Faisalabad Wolves won by 8 wickets (with 23 balls remaining). Faisalabad Wolves 101 for 2 wickets; 16.1 overs and Hyderabad Hawks 97 for 8 wickets; 20 overs, Lahore Lions won by 30 runs against Multan Tigers. Lahore Lions 182/4 (20/20 ov) and Multan Tigers 152/5 (20.0/20 ov) and Sialkot Stallions won by 8 wickets (with 20 balls remaining) Karachi Zebras 111/5 (20/20 ov) and Sialkot Stallions 112/2 (16.4/20 ov), Sialkot Stallions won by 8 wickets (with 20 balls remaining)Karachi Zebras 111/5 (20/20 ov) and Sialkot Stallions 112/2 (16.4/20 ov).
