Lions edge Stallions in thriller

FAISALABAD: Lions defeated Stallions by 12 runs in the first Eliminator of the Champions One-Day Cup match at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium on Wednesday.

Chasing 264, Stallions were all out in the last over for 251.

Openers Yasir Khan and Maaz Sadaqat scored 39 and 27, respectively to give a steady start to the Stallions. Hussain Talat scored 32.

Tayyab Tahir managed 28. Mohammad Mohsin and captain Mohammad Haris scored 30 runs each to keep the stallions in the game.

Jahandad hit two fours and two sixes in his 36 off 32 balls to accelerate the scoring but his efforts eventually proved inadequate.

Earlier, Imam-ul-Haq and Co. opted to bat first, setting a total of 263/9 within 50 overs.

Experiencing a shaky start, the Lions saw the top-order batter Rohail Nazir heading towards the pavilion after scoring 4 runs off 8 balls when Ubaid Shah hit the stumps in 2.2 overs.

In addition, Ubaid Shah pulled off an unbelievable catch to dismiss the captain Imam-ul-Haq after he scored 23 off 32 balls with 3 boundaries.

Mohammad Taha contributed 47 runs to the total with 2 fours and 2 sixes after facing 59 balls. Sharoon Siraj scored 38 off 50 balls, hitting two fours and one six.

Thanks to Aamer Yamin (46 off 57) and Ahmed Daniyal (65 off 59), Lions went past 260 to post a competitive total. Aamer Yamin was run out by the captain Mohammad Haris of Stallions in the 44th over.

Omair Yousuf (4), Irfan Khan (7), Khushdil Shah (2), Sirajuddin (7), and Faisal Akram (2) were not even able to score 10 runs for their team. Ubaid Shah dismissed three players, while Adil Amin and Maaz Sadaqat bagged two wickets each.