FAISALABAD: Panthers secured a dominating five-wicket win over Markhors in the final match of the inaugural Champions One-Day Cup held at Iqbal Stadium on Sunday to clinch the title.
Chasing a modest target of 123 runs, Panthers successfully completed the chase in just 18 overs, demonstrating both skill and composure throughout the match.
Led by captain Shadab Khan, Panthers set the tone for their innings with a strong start from opening batsman Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, who scored 41 runs off 43 balls, featuring five boundaries and two sixes. His opening partner, Umar Siddiq, contributed 19 runs before being dismissed, giving Panthers a solid foundation for the chase.
Markhors, having batted first, struggled to establish momentum, bowled out for a mere 122 runs in the 33rd over. Fakhar Zaman was the standout performer for Markhors, scoring 46 runs off 49 balls, but he lacked support from his teammates, as most batters fell quickly. Notably, Zain Abbas managed only 6 runs, and the team’s batting order collapsed under pressure from the Panthers’ bowlers.
Panthers’ bowling attack was led by Mohammad Hasnain and Arafat Minhas, who both claimed three wickets each. Sajid Khan also played a pivotal role, taking two wickets and contributing to the early downfall of Markhors’ batting lineup.
Markhors struggled to recover after losing their captain, Iftikhar Ahmed, for just 3 runs, which left them reeling at 26/2.
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With Panthers needing 123 to win, they approached their innings with a mixture of aggression and caution. After Bangalzai’s dismissal, Sajid Khan and Usman Khan added brief contributions of 15 and 13 runs, respectively.
Shadab Khan’s entry provided the finishing touch, as he scored an unbeaten 14 runs off 9 balls, sealing the victory alongside Rizwan Mehmood, who remained not out with 16 runs.
Panthers’ triumph was marked by their ability to capitalize on early breakthroughs, which dismantled Markhors’ batting order and set up a comfortable chase. Shadab Khan praised his team’s efforts and expressed pride in their performance throughout the tournament.
In his post-match remarks, Shadab emphasized the importance of teamwork and resilience that led to their victory. “We maintained our focus and executed our plans effectively. Every player contributed, and it’s this collective effort that brought us the trophy,” he stated.
