Allied Bank Stallions secured a dominant 133-run victory over Nurpur Lions in the second match of the Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup on Friday at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Chasing a challenging target of 337 runs, the Lions were bowled out for 203 in 39.3 overs, falling significantly short.
The Stallions’ fast bowlers, Mohammad Ali and Jahandad Khan, made an immediate impact with the new ball, reducing the Lions to 22-3 in the first six overs. Ali claimed two early wickets, while Jahandad took one, putting the Lions on the back foot from the start. Hussain Talat then added to the pressure by dismissing Sharoon Siraj, who scored 28 off 38 balls, including four boundaries and a six. Haris Rauf removed Khushdil Shah for 19, as the Lions stumbled to 107-5 by the 24th over.
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Despite a fighting effort from Imam-ul-Haq, who scored a valiant half-century (78 off 83 balls with six fours and one six), the Lions could not recover. Imam fell to Jahandad Khan in the 34th over, ending any hopes of a comeback. Lower-order contributions from Aamer Yamin and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who both scored 22 off 21 balls, weren’t enough to bridge the gap. The Lions lost their last five wickets for 96 runs, finishing 133 runs short of the target. Haris Rauf was the standout bowler for the Stallions, taking 3-43 in 7.3 overs, while Mohammad Ali and Jahandad Khan chipped in with two wickets each.
Earlier, the Stallions laid the foundation for their big total after electing to bat first. They posted an imposing 336-5 in 50 overs, thanks to crucial half-centuries from Babar Azam, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Haris, and Hussain Talat. After a steady start, the Stallions lost openers Yasir Khan (13) and Shan Masood (41) with the score at 74-2. However, Babar Azam and Tayyab Tahir built a solid third-wicket partnership, adding 114 runs to stabilize the innings.
Babar played a measured knock, scoring 76 off 79 balls, including nine boundaries, before being dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 35th over. Tayyab Tahir contributed a fluent 74 off 72 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes, before falling in the 39th over.
The Stallions’ middle order kept the momentum going as Mohammad Haris and Hussain Talat took the attack to the Lions’ bowlers. Haris smashed 55 off 36 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes, while Hussain remained unbeaten on 50 from 33 balls, hitting six fours and one six. The pair added 88 runs for the fifth wicket off just 53 balls, pushing the Stallions past the 300-run mark. Jahandad Khan chipped in with a quickfire 20 off 11 balls as the Stallions scored 118 runs in the final 10 overs.
For the Lions, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Aamir Jamal took two wickets each, while Faisal Akram claimed one.
Scores in brief:
Allied Bank Stallions: 336-5 in 50 overs (Babar Azam 76, Tayyab Tahir 74, Mohammad Haris 55, Hussain Talat 50, Shan Masood 41; Aamir Jamal 2-60, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-63, Faisal Akram 1-40)
Nurpur Lions: 203 all out in 39.3 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 78, Sharoon Siraj 28, Aamer Yamin 22, Shaheen Shah Afridi 22; Haris Rauf 3-43, Mohammad Ali 2-18, Jahandad Khan 2-33)
Player of the Match
Babar Azam (Allied Bank Stallions)
Next Fixture
Dolphins vs Lake City Panthers, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, 3pm (local time)
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