RAWALPINDI: Fakhar Zaman’s blistering knock of 89 runs was the cornerstone of Markhors’ 29-run victory over the Lions in the T20 Champions Cup Qualifier here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
With a convincing victory in the qualifiers, Markhors joined the Stallions in the final of the six-team tournament, which will be played on Wednesday at the same venue.
Put into bat first, the Markhors posted a formidable total of 180 for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs, with Fakhar leading the attack with a quickfire half-century.
The left-hander opened nine fours and five sixes on his way to a 64-ball 89 and came back in the final after scoring the best goal for his team.
He oversaw Markhors’ batting expedition until the end and played a vital role in their recovery from a dismal start that saw them fall to 3/3 inside two overs.
The left-handed batsman finally found subtle support at the other end from number seven batsman Abdul Samad, who scored an unbeaten 41 off just 20 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes.
For the winning stroke, Fakhar Zaman was named the best player of the match in the qualifiers.
Afaq Afridi led the bowling attack for the Lions with three wickets, followed by Shahab Khan who picked two wickets.
In response, the Lions’ batting unit struggled against Markhors’ bowling attack led by Akif Javed and managed to amass 151/9 in 20 overs and thus succumbed to a disappointing 29-run defeat.
Middle-order batsman Mohammad Taha fought a lone battle for the Lions with a 28-ball 44, comprising one four and four sixes.
Apart from him, opener Hasan Nawaz (27) and inferior batsman Musa Khan (26 not out) made notable contributions, while the rest failed to make a mark in the important match.
Akif was the pick of the Markhors’ bowlers with three wickets, while Nisar Ahmed took two. Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Imran Jr and Muhammad Imran shared three wickets between them.
