RAWALPINDI: Fakhar Zaman’s blistering 89-run knock was the cornerstone of Markhors’ 29-run victory over Lions in the Qualifier of the Champions T20 Cup here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday.
With a convincing victory in the qualifier, Markhors joined Stallions in the final of the six-team tournament, set to be played on Wednesday at the same venue.
Put into bat first, the Markhors registered a formidable total of 180 for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs, with Fakhar leading the charge with a quickfire half-century.
The left-handed opener smashed nine fours and five sixes on his way to a 64-ball 89 and walked back in the final over after top-scoring for his side.
He oversaw Markhors’ batting expedition until the final over and played a vital role in recovering them from a dismal start, which saw them slipping to 3/3 in two overs.
The left-handed batter eventually found subtle support from the other end by number seven batter Abdul Samad, who scored an unbeaten 41 from just 20 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes.
For his match-winning knock, Fakhar Zaman was adjudged the player of the match in the qualifier.
Afaq Afridi led the bowling charge for the Lions with three wickets, followed by Shahab Khan, who picked two wickets.
In response, the Lions’ batting unit struggled against an Akif Javed-led Markhors’ bowling attack and could amass 151/9 in 20 overs and thus succumbed to a disappointing 29-run defeat.
Middle-order batter Mohammad Taha waged a lone battle for the Lions with a 28-ball 44, comprised of one four and four sixes.
Besides him, opener Hasan Nawaz (27) and lower-order batter Musa Khan (26 not out) made notable contributions, while the rest failed to leave a mark in the all-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.
- Fakhar Zaman
