RAWALPINDI: Khushdil Shah backed his quickfire half-century with two wickets and steered Lions to a comfortable 35-run victory over Dolphins in the eighth match of the Champions T20 Cup here at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Put into bat first, the Lions registered a massive total of 194/5 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to the half-centuries by skipper Imam-ul-Haq, Hasan Nawaz and Khushdil.
Imam and Hasan laid solid foundation for a massive total with a brisk 100-run partnership, which culminated with the latter’s dismissal in the 12th over.
Hasan scored 50 off 34 balls, laced with four fours and three sixes.
His dismissal sparked a collapse as the Lions lost three more wickets in quick succession, including set batter Imam, and consequently slipped to 152/4 in 17 overs.
Imam remained the top-scorer for the Lions with a 48-ball 65 with the help of seven fours and a six.
Following the hiccup, Khushdil launched a counter attack with belligerent hitting and smashed two fours and six sixes on his way to an unbeaten 57 off just 22 deliveries.
He shared a one-sided 42-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Aamer Yamin, who made four off six.
For the Dolphins, Salman Irshad bagged three wickets, while Sameen Gul picked two.
Chasing a daunting 195-run target, Dolphins’ batting unit unfolded on 159 in the final over despite opening batter Sahibzada Farhan’s half-century.
Dolphins got off to a flying start to the run chase as Farhan and Mirza Tahir Baig recorded a brisk 57-run opening partnership, which concluded on the final delivery of the batting powerplay with the latter’s dismissal after scoring 29 off 16.
Dolphins then lost another wicket in the next over as wicketkeeper batter Muhammad Akhlaq fell for a three-ball duck.
Following the back-to-back dismissals, experienced batter Umar Amin joined hands with opener Farhan and put together a 51-run partnership for the third wicket.
The duo had brought Dolphins back in the hunt but the pair’s dismissal in successive overs, halted their progress.
Farhan remained the top-scorer for Dolphins with a 42-ball 54, while Amin made 25 off 19.
Their back-to-back dismissals sparked a match-defining collapse, which saw Dolphins losing their remaining six wickets for just 48 runs.
Musa Khan was the standout bowler for the Lions with 4/23 in his four overs, followed by Khushdil Shah and Shahid Aziz with two wickets each. Mohammad Awais Anwar and Sharoon Siraj, on the other hand, chipped in with a wicket apiece.
For his all-round brilliance, Khushdil was adjudged the player of the match.
