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Faisalabad, 12 September 2024: UMT Markhors beat Lake City Panthers by 160 runs in the opening match of the Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Thursday. In pursuit of 348 runs target, Panthers were 52 for six when the first PowerPlay ended before their innings folded for 187 in 34.5 overs.
Markhors’ onslaught with the bat, particularly in the last five overs that produced 83 runs, was followed by three-wicket bursts by Naseem Shah and Akif Javed, two wickets by Shahnawaz Dahani. Panthers’ Saim Ayub (20, 15b, 3x4s, 1x6) was the only batter in the top-six to reach the double figures.
After Panthers had slipped to 52 for six, No.8 batter Amad Butt (72, 84b, 9x4s, 3x6s) stitched a 59-run seventh-wicket partnership with Mubasir Khan (33, 31b, 4x4s, 1x6) and another 59 runs eighth-wicket partnership with Usama Mir (21, 20b, 1x4, 1x6). But, all in vain as Panthers fell 160 runs short of the target with 15.1 overs remaining.
Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Markhors posted an impressive 347 for six in 50 overs, courtesy a century by Kamran Ghulam, impressive half-century by Iftikhar Ahmed and a 25-ball 62-run blitz by local boy Abdul Samad.
Kamran Ghulam notched up his seventh List-A century from 88 balls before perishing after scoring an entertaining 115 that came off 102 balls and included 12 fours and three sixes. In partnership with his captain Mohammad Rizwan (45, 57b, 3x6), Kamran Ghulam added 133 runs for the third wicket off 121 balls after Markhors were 64 for two.
Iftikhar Ahmed, batting at No.6, returned unbeaten on 57 from 44 balls with seven fours and a six, but it was Abdul Samad’s whirlwind innings that not only helped Markhors cross the 300-mark but practically batted Panthers out of the match.
The 25-year-old local hero belted four fours and six sixes in a 25-ball 62 that lit up the packed-to-capacity Iqbal Stadium. It was Samad’s aggression and Iftikhar’s patience that yielded 87 runs from 39 balls for the sixth wicket.
For Panthers, off-spinner Mubasir Khan and Mohammad Hasnain two wickets apiece, conceding 36 and 61 runs, respectively.
Scores in brief
UMT Markhors won by 160 runs
UMT Markhors 347-6, 50 overs (Kamran Ghulam 115, Abdul Samad 62, Iftikhar Ahmed 57 not out, Mohammad Rizwan 45; Mubasir Khan 2-36, Mohammad Hasnain 2-61)
Lake City Panthers 187 all out, 34.5 overs (Amad Butt 72, Mubasir Khan 33, Naseem Shah 3-27, Akif Javed 3-43, Shahnawaz Dahani 2-29, Zahid Mahmood 1-50)
Player of the match: Kamran Ghulam (UMT Markhors)
Tomorrow’s fixture: Allied Bank Stallions vs Nurpur Lions, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad at 3pm (local time)
