The Markhors delivered a commanding performance in the opening match of the Champions One-Day Cup, defeating the Panthers by 160 runs at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.
After setting an imposing target of 348, the Markhors’ bowlers, spearheaded by Naseem Shah, dismantled the Panthers’ batting order, bowling them out for 187.
Kamran Ghulam led the charge with the bat, scoring a superb 115 off 102 balls. His 133-run partnership with captain Mohammad Rizwan (45) provided a strong foundation, while Iftikhar Ahmed’s unbeaten 57 off 44 balls pushed the total to 347/6.
Despite efforts from Muhammad Hasnain and Mubasir Khan, who each claimed two wickets, the Panthers couldn’t match the Markhors’ superior performance.
Naseem Shah’s early breakthroughs put the Panthers under pressure, dismissing Abdul Wahid Bangalzai and key players like Usman Khan and Haider Ali. Captain Shadab Khan was also dismissed cheaply, leaving the Panthers struggling at 41/5. Amad Butt fought back with a resilient 72, but his dismissal by Zahid Mehmood ended any hopes of a recovery.
Playing XIs:
Panthers: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Faizan, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Ali Agha, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Zahid Mahmood, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Akif Javed.
Markhors: Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Azan Awais, Haider Ali, Shadab Khan (c), Mubasir Khan, Amad Butt, Mohammad Hasnain, Usama Mir, Mohammad Zeeshan.