Panthers thump Markhors to clinch Champions One-Day Cup title

FAISALABAD: Mohammad Hasnain and Arafat Minhas took three wickets each, while Abdul Wahid Bangalzai played a 41-run knock to help the Panthers crush Markhors and clinch the Champions One-Day Cup title here on Sunday.

Chasing a meagre 123-run target, Panthers’ captain Shadab Khan sealed the victory with a six off Shahnawaz Dahani on the last ball of the 18th over.

Panthers started the chase strongly with a 51-run opening stand between Umar Siddiq and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai.

However, Shahnawaz halted their progress as he castled Umar after he scored 19 runs from 21 balls with three boundaries.

Sajid Khan, who was promoted up to bat at number three, scored 15 off 13 before Akif Javed ended his brief stay at the crease.

Usman Khan also fell prey to Akif in the next over after scoring 13 off eight with one four and one six.

Meanwhile, Bangalzai played a solid 41-run knock to keep the Panthers in the hunt before Mohammad Imran removed him and Haider Ali in the same over.

However, the Panthers comfortably chased the total in 18 overs with Rizwan Mehmood scoring an unbeaten 16, while Shadab Khan scored 14 off nine.

For Markhors, Akif Javed and Mohammad Imran claimed two wickets each while Shahnawaz Dahani bagged one wicket.

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Markhors’ captain Iftikhar Ahmed opted to bat first in the final of the inaugural season of the Champions One-Day Cup, however, the decision backfired.

Mohammad Hasnain removed Zain Abbas, who was promoted to open the innings, in the second over with only 13 runs on the board.

Meanwhile, Kamran Ghulam, who is the second-highest run-scorer in the Champions One-Day Cup, failed on the big occasion, falling prey to young speedster Ali Raza after scoring a mere two runs.

Fakhar Zaman and Haseebullah Khan showed resistance with a 56-run partnership for the third wicket before Sajid Khan castled the latter.

Haseebullah played a scratchy knock of 27 runs from 48 balls with the help of three boundaries.

Meanwhile, Fakhar also fell to Sajid in the next over after top-scoring with a 46-run knock from 49 balls, laced with five boundaries and one six.

Markhors failed to recover and suffered a dramatic collapse as they lost their six wickets for 38 runs, bundling out for a meagre 122 runs.

Young spinner Arafat Minhas returned with brilliant bowling figures of 3-1 for Panthers, while Hasnain took three wickets for 38 runs. Sajid Khan bagged two crucial wickets, while Ali Raza and Shadab Khan bagged one each.

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