Imam-ul-Haq stars as Lions edge out Panthers in Champions T20 Cup

RAWALPINDI: Lions’ captain Imam-ul-Haq scored a quick-fire half-century to steer his team to an eight-run win over Panthers in the Champions T20 Cup here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

The Panthers, set a target of 161 runs to win, finished with a score of 152-6 in their allotted overs after they failed to score 16 runs in the final over of Shahid Aziz.

Danish Aziz scored an unbeaten 38 off 27 balls with five boundaries, while opening batter Umar Siddiq scored a 28-ball 38, hitting one six and four boundaries.

Sajid Khan struck two sixes in his eight-ball 17 while Amad Butt scored an unbeaten 13-ball 16 but those were not enough.

For the Lions, spinner Sharoon Siraj bagged three wickets for 19.

The victory propelled Lions to second position in the Champions T20 Cup points table with eight points from seven matches. Markhors are at the top of the table with 10 points while Stallions are third with eight points.

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Meanwhile, the defeat leaves Panthers in fourth with six points while Engro Dolphins are pointless with six defeats in as many matches.

Sent into bat, Lions had a solid start with Imam-ul-Haq and Hasan Nawaz putting 85 in 7.2 overs.

Imam cracked eight boundaries and a six in his 36-ball 57 while Hasan’s 22-ball 41 was spiced with three sixes and four boundaries. But once Nawaz fell to spinner Sajid Khan the innings fell apart.

Lions slumped from 110-1 to 160 all out with four balls of the stipulated 20 overs remaining unused.

Shahzaib Khan (16) and Khushdil Shah (13) were the other batters to cross the double figures.

Leg-spinner Usama Mir returned with figures of 4-23 in his four overs while pacer Mohammad Wasim Jnr took 2-22.

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