In a thrilling match at the Champions One-Day Cup, Mohammad Rizwan's Markhors recorded their third back-to-back win, beating the Dolphins by a main 92 runs. The match, held at the Iqbal Arena in Faisalabad on Wednesday, saw the Dolphins come up short while chasing the 285-run mark set by the Markhors.
Markhors Set a Challenging Target
The Markhors batted first and set off 284 runs
for the loss of nine wickets. The innings were featured by Kamran Ghulam's
extraordinary hundred runs and remarkable contributions from skipper Mohammad
Rizwan and others.
Early Wickets Trouble the Markhors
The Markhors didn't have the best beginning to their
innings, as they lost two early wickets. Bismillah Khan was dismissed for a
duck, trailed by Mohammad Faizan, who managed only 1 run. With the squad at 2
for 1, it seemed as though they could battle to set a serious total.
Kamran Ghulam’s Game-Changing Century
Kamran Ghulam moved forward when his squad required
him the most, playing a game-winning hit of 113 runs from 110
balls. His innings included 12 boundaries and 3 sixes, giving the establishment
to the Markhors' innings after the early blows.
Rizwan’s Steady Contribution
Captain Mohammad Rizwan assumed a fundamental supporting
part, scoring 51 runs from 67 balls. Rizwan's partnership with
Ghulam balanced the innings, permitting the Markhors to recuperate from their
initial losses.
Late Contributions Push the Score to 284
Indeed, even after Ghulam's dismissal by Sameen Gul, the
lower order added essential runs. Zahid Mahmood stayed unbeaten on 15, while
Akif Javed hit 6 runs off the last ball to push the squad's score to a competitive
284. Despite the fall of a few late wickets, the Markhors confirmed they had a
defendable total.
Dolphins’ Bowling Effort
For the Dolphins, Faheem Ashraf was the champion bowler,
getting 4 wickets for 43 runs. His reliable bowling, alongside Mir Hamza's
2 wickets, assisted the Dolphins in limiting the Markhors from scoring
significantly higher.
Dolphins Collapse in the Chase
Chasing 285, the Dolphins never truly got moving and
were bowled out for 192 runs in 43.5 overs. Their innings were damaged
by an absence of partnerships and constant pressure from the Markhors' bowlers.
Sahibzada Farhan’s Solid Start
Sahibzada Farhan attempted to provide the Dolphins
with a consistent beginning, scoring 24 runs off 35 balls. His innings
included three limits, yet his initial partner, Muhammad Hurraira, battled and
was dismissed for a duck, leaving the squad at 12-1.
Early Wickets Cause Dolphins’ Downfall
The top order continued to fight, with Muhammad Akhlaq
overseeing only 1 run before being excused. Skipper Saud Shakeel showed some
resistance with a battling 41 from 56 balls, yet he was unable to keep the
innings together and was out of Salman's bowling, leaving the Dolphins at a dangerous
99-5.
Asif Ali Fights Back with a Half-Century
Asif Ali gives some expectation for the Dolphins with
a strong thump of 50 from 43 balls. He struck three boundaries and three
sixes to carry energy to the innings, yet his efforts alone weren't sufficient to
chase down the target.
Faheem Ashraf’s Late Effort
Faheem Ashraf, who succeeded with the ball before, added 15
runs with the bat before being caught lbw by Mohammad Imran. As the wickets
constantly fell, the Dolphins initiated themselves in deeper worry, ultimately
being bowled out for 192.
Markhors’ Bowling Excellence
The Markhors' bowlers were uncommon all through the
Dolphins' innings. Mohammad Imran and Salman Agha were the pick of the
bowlers, each taking three wickets. Akif Javed and Zahid Mahmood also
contributed by keeping up with the pressure and not permitting any Dolphins'
batsman to settle.
Markhors Secure Another Victory
The Markhors' success by 92 runs not only denoted
their third successive win in the Champions One-Day Cup but also solidified
their position as one of the top squads in the competition. The squad’s outstanding
performance, with key commitments from Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan,
and the bowling unit, confirmed that the Dolphins were continuously playing
catch-up.
Playing XIs
Dolphins:
This is the playing eleven in the Dolphins Team.
- Sahibzada
Farhan
- Muhammad
Hurraira
- Muhammad
Akhlaq (wk)
- Saud
Shakeel (c)
- Qasim
Akram
- Asif
Ali
- Faheem
Ashraf
- Sameen
Gul
- Sufiyan
Muqeem
- Usman
Qadir
- Mir
Hamza
Markhors:
This is the playing eleven in the Markhors Team.
- Bismillah
Khan
- Mohammad
Faizan
- Kamran
Ghulam
- Mohammad
Rizwan (c) (wk)
- Salman
Agha
- Iftikhar
Ahmed
- Abdul
Samad
- Mohammad
Imran
- Zahid
Mahmood
- Naseem
Shah
- Akif
Javed
0 Comments