Panthers Clinch First Win with Mohammad Hasnain’s Five-Wicket Haul
The Panthers secured their first victory in the Champions Cup One-Day Tournament with a 50-run win over the Dolphins at Iqbal Stadium on Saturday. Fast bowler Mohammad Hasnain played a pivotal role, taking 5 wickets for 74 runs and reaching a milestone of 50 List A wickets.
Match Summary:
- Panthers’ Innings: The Panthers set a challenging target of 329 runs after a shaky start. Openers Saim Ayub and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai were dismissed early, leaving the team at 19 for 2. However, Usman Khan and Umar Siddiq stabilised the innings with a 70-run partnership. Despite Umar’s run out, Haider Ali (63 off 46) and Usman Khan (111 off 110) added a vital 103-run partnership. Shadab Khan’s 65 off 45 balls contributed to the Panthers’ total of 328 before being bowled out in 49.4 overs. For the Dolphins, Usman Qadir, Mir Hamza, and Abbas Afridi took crucial wickets.
- Dolphins’ Chase: The Dolphins began their chase well with an opening stand of 68 runs from Mohammad Huraira and Sahibzada Farhan. Farhan scored 52 off 69 balls, and Huraira made 39 off 30. However, a collapse followed, leaving the Dolphins at 166 for 5. Qasim Akram (65) and Faheem Ashraf (41) put up a fight with a 78-run partnership, but the Dolphins fell short, bowled out for 278 in 47 overs.
Key Performances:
- Mohammad Hasnain: 5 wickets for 74 runs, his third List A five-wicket haul.
- Usman Khan: Maiden List A century, scoring 111 off 110 balls.
- Shadab Khan: 65 off 45 balls.
Playing XIs:
- Panthers: Saim Ayub, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Umar Siddiq, Usman Khan (wk), Mubasir Khan, Shadab Khan (c), Amad Butt, Usama Mir, Mohammad Hasnain, Ahmed Bashir.
- Dolphins: Sahibzada Farhan, Muhammad Huraira, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Saud Shakeel (c), Qasim Akram, Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Abbas Afridi, Noman Ali, Usman Qadir, Mir Hamza.
The Panthers’ win marks a promising start to their campaign, with key performances setting the tone for their upcoming matches.
