Rawalpindi: Markhors secured their second successive Champions T20 Cup victory, defeating Dolphins by two wickets in a thrilling encounter at the Pindi Cricket Stadium.
After being asked to bat first, the Dolphins posted a total of 128/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
They suffered a setback in the very first over when goalkeeper Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a duck by Akif Javed.
Tahir Baig and Mohammad Akhlaq tried to stabilize the innings, building a 63-run partnership for the second wicket.
However, the stand was broken when Baig was dismissed for 29 off 28 deliveries by Mohammad Nawaz, leaving the Dolphins at 63/2 in 9.2 overs.
The pressure mounted when Umar Amin (11) fell to Nawaz, reducing the Dolphins to 81/3 in 11.4 overs.
Akhlaq stood firm with a knock of 40 runs from 33 balls but his dismissal at 87/4 in 13.2 overs further hampered the Dolphins’ progress.
The lower order faltered, with Qasim Akram (14), Mohammad Suleman (9) and captain Faheem Ashraf (1) falling cheaply.
Mohammad Nawaz led the bowling attack with stellar figures of 3/28 from his four overs, supported by Akif Javed who took two wickets, while Nisar Ahmad and Mohammad Imran Jr took one wicket each.
In response, the Markhors got off to a shaky start. Hard-hitting hitter Fakhar Zaman was dismissed for a golden duck off the first ball of the innings.
Mohammad Shahzad (11) and Abdul Samad (1) also fell in the powerplay, leaving the team struggling at 44/3 in 4.2 overs.
Khawaja Nafay took charge, forming a vital 29-run partnership for the fourth wicket with captain Iftikhar Ahmed.
However, Iftikhar struggled and was dismissed for 5 off 13 balls, leaving the team at 96/5 in 12.2 overs. Sarwar Afridi managed just 13 runs before falling to Faheem Ashraf.
Khawaja Nafay emerged as the standout player for the Markhors, hitting 68 runs off 41 balls, including four boundaries and four sixes at a strike rate of 165.85.
His explosive innings took the Markhors to the brink of victory but he was dismissed at 102/6 in 14 overs.
The pressure mounted when Salman Irshad and Qasim Akram attacked to dismiss Saad Masood (9) and Nisar Ahmad (0), reducing the Markhors to 125/8 in 17.1 overs.
With just four runs needed, Mohammad Nawaz (18) and Akif Javed (5) held their nerve to seal the chase in 18.5 overs.
Sameen Gul led the Dolphins’ bowling with figures of 3/23 in his four-over spell, while Qasim Akram took two wickets. Faheem Ashraf and Salman Irshad contributed one wicket each.
Khawaja Nafay was named man of the match for his incredible knock in the match.
