In a thrilling encounter during the Champions T20 Cup, the Markhors edged out the Dolphins by two wickets at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium to consolidate their position in the table. The low-scoring yet action-packed match saw both teams showcasing moments of brilliance, with individual performances stealing the spotlight.
The Dolphins managed to post a modest total of 128/9 in 20 overs, failing to capitalize on promising starts. Despite a solid knock by Muhammad Akhlaq (40 off 33), the rest of the batting line-up struggled to build partnerships.
The Markhors’ bowlers, led by Mohammad Nawaz (4-0-28-3) and Akif Javed (4-0-33-2), kept the pressure on throughout the innings.
Chasing 129, Markhors relied heavily on Khawaja Nafay’s explosive 68 off 41 balls, which included 4 fours and 4 sixes. His aggressive batting set the tone, despite a shaky middle-order collapse.
The Riders’ bowling attack was spearheaded by Sameen Gul (3-0-23-3) and Qasim Akram (3-0-11-2), keeping the chase tense until the very end. The match swung in the Markhors’ favor due to a crucial cameo from Mohammad Nawaz (18 off 19), who steered the team home with 7 balls to spare despite the late-order jitters.
| Team | Score | Overs |
|---|---|---|
| Dolphins | 128/9 | 20.0 |
| Markhors | 132/8 | 18.5 |
The victory cements Markhors’ place in the tournament as a team to watch, while Dolphins will rue their missed opportunities.
| Teams | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | No Result | Aban | Bonus Pts | Points | Net RR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stallions | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.750 |
| Markhors | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.609 |
| Panthers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.100 |
| Lions | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.603 |
| Dolphins | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.211 |
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