Iftikhar and Faizan help Markhors beat Lions

RAWALPINDI: Abdul Samad hit last ball six to earn an exciting win for UMT Markhors against Nurpur Lions following a powerful stroke-making display unleashed by Iftikhar Ahmed here at the Pindi Stadium Sunday.

Markhors required five to win on the last ball delivered by Shahid Aziz with Abdul Samad managed to clear the field for six to the jubilation of his teammates. Nurpur Lions entrusted 21-year-old pacer Shahid Aziz with the task of defending 11 runs in the final over. Shahid removed the well-set Mohammad Faizan with the second ball for a 42-ball 66. Mohammad Nawaz smashed the next ball for a boundary but after a dot ball was caught in the deep. Abdul Samad, however, kept his cool to hit the winning six, chasing the stiff 188-run target.

Faizan, who cracked five sixes and three boundaries off 42 balls, came together with skipper Iftikhar Ahmed with their team in a spot of bother at 37-2. The duo added 88 in quick time. Iftikhar struck eight sixes and two boundaries in his 31-ball 66-run knock.

But Lions hit back when Shahid dismissed Iftikhar in the 14th over and followed that with Saad Masood’s scalp. Faizan kept the tempo until the final over as Markhors pulled off a sensational win. Shahid took 4-42 in the losing cause. Lions, who opted to bat first were given an aggressive start of 56 in 4.2 overs as Hasan Nawaz (24) and Imam-ul-Haq (28) cut loose from the get-go. Rohail Nazir (17-ball 22) and Shahzaib Khan (13-ball 16 with a six and a boundary) got starts but fell in the space of just one run.

All-rounder Aamer Yamin rescued the innings with a solid 27-ball 39 inclusive of two sixes and as many fours to help his team add 57 in the last five overs, taking them to 187-7 in 20 overs. Pacers Nisar Ahmed with 2-40 and Akif Javed 2-47 shared the bowling honours.

Earlier in day’s opening match, Mohammad Haris hit a fiery 35-ball 61 and pacer Mohammad Ali grabbed 4-28 to give ABL Stallions a convincing six wicket win over Lake City Panthers. With the win ABL Stallions strengthened their top position in the five-team Bahria Town Champions Cup table as second round matches started in a thrilling way.

Panthers were lifted to 168-7 by Pakistan international star Haider Ali who smashed a belligerent 49-ball 73 with five towering sixes and as many boundaries but the total proved reachable for the Stallions. Stallions were given a robust 28-run start in just 3.1 overs as Yasir Khan hit a 13-ball 20 and Maaz Sadaqat 14-ball 18.