RAWALPINDI – Player of the match Hasan Nawaz smashed a fiery half century while Khushdil Shah produced an all-round show as Nurpur Lions beat ABL Stallions by three wickets in the Bahria Town Champions T20 Cup at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
The winners overhauled the 169-run target for the loss of seven wickets with an over to spare. Stallions were all out off the final delivery for 168.
Despite the defeat the Stallions were still top of the five-team table with eight points in six games, winning four and losing two games. Lions are now third on the table, behind Markhors (second) with six points. They have won three and lost three matches.
Panthers also have six points but are fourth with an inferior net run-rate to Lions. Dolphins have yet to open their account after losing all their five matches.
Hasan launched an attack right from the word go and despite losing his opening partner, Imam-ul-Haq for four in the second over, he did not relent. He added 41 for the second wicket with Shahzaib Khan (six). Another 43 were added between Hasan and Mohammad Taha (21 off 18 balls).
Stallions mentor Shoaib Malik then derailed the chase with wickets of Hasan in the 15th over, leaving 47 to defend in the last five overs. Shoaib also accounted for Khushdil Shah for 10, but Rohail Nazir kept his cool with an innings of 26 not out off 12 balls.
Earlier, sent into bat, Hussain Talat once again came to his team’s rescue as he hit a 29-ball 43. He added 42 for the fifth wicket with Shoaib who made a 16-ball 22.
The two were given a good platform by Maaz Sadaqat, who made 34 off 27 balls. Maaz and young Shamyl Hussain put on a brisk 46 run opening stand by just 5.2 overs. Ubaid Shah gave a final flurry to the innings, smashing two sixes and a four in his six-ball 17.
Stallions lost three wickets in the last over, including two run outs. Fast bowler Musa Khan was the best of the bowlers with 3-32. Khushdil Shah took 2-30 while Shahid Aziz finished with 2-35.
