FAISALABAD (Web Desk) - Engro Dolphins beat Nurpur Lions by 16 runs in the last league match of the Champions One-Day Cup here at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Sunday night. Despite the loss, the Lions have qualified for the playoff stage and will face Allied Bank Stallions on Wednesday’s eliminator. The Tuesday’s Qualifier will be played between UMT Markhors and Lake City Panthers.
In this crucial game, chasing 327 runs, the Lions needed to score 260 or more in order to qualify, which they did in the 47th over but fell 16 runs short as they finished 310-8 in 50 overs.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, the Dolphins opening batters Mohammad Huraira (47, 41b, 4x4s, 2x6s) and Muhammad Akhlaq (52, 50b, 3x4s, 4x6s) laid the platform for a big score as they put on 63-ball 77-run second-wicket stand before the former departed in the 16th over.
After Dolphins were reduced to 126-3 in 19.1 overs, Umar Amin, the top scorer for Dolphins, hit 75 off 81 balls with the help of nine fours to keep the innings intact. He also put on a 53-run (fourth-wicket) and 62-run (sixth-wicket) stand with Saud Shakeel (23, 23b, 1x4) and Qasim Akram (31, 26b, 4x4s), respectively.
Faheem Ashraf‘s 30 off 20 including three sixes helped Dolphins cross the 300-run mark as they finished 326 all out in 49.3 overs. Aamir Jamal (3-69), Ahmed Daniyal (2-58) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-58) were the leading bowlers for Lions as Khushdil Shah and Sharoon Siraj picked up one wicket each.
Half-centuries from Rohail Nazir (62, 70b, 6x4s, 1x6) and Khushdil (60, 40b) were crucial in keeping the Lions in hunt of 327-run target. After a 78-run opening partnership between Rohail and Abdullah Shafique (27, 42b, 3x4s), Omair Bin Yousuf and Sharoon Siraj contributed 26 and 25 runs, respectively before Lions were reduced to 172-4 in 29 overs.
Mohammad Taha (40, 49b, 4x4s) and Muhammad Irfan Khan (13, 16b, 1x4) departed in a space of 19 balls as Lions were dented to 213-6 in 38 overs. Khushdil, batting at No. 7, hit four fours and five sixes and was aided by Shaheen Shah Afridi who smoked five sixes in his unbeaten 33 off 28 balls but in vain.
Saud (2-24) and Mohammad Abbas Afridi (2-78) were the leading bowlers for Dolphins.
Scores in brief:
Engro Dolphins 326 all out, 49.3 overs (Umar Amin 75, Muhammad Akhlaq 52, Mohammad Huraira 47, Qasim Akram 31, Faheem Ashraf 30; Aamir Jamal 3-69, Ahmed Daniyal 2-58, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-58)
Nurpur Lions 310-8, 50 overs (Rohail Nazir 62, Khushdil Shah 60, Shaheen Shah Afridi 33, Abdullah Shafique 27, Omair Bin Yousuf 26, Sharoon Siraj 25; Saud Shakeel 2-24, Mohammad Abbas Afridi 2-78)
Player of the match: Umar Amin (Engro Dolphins)
Next fixture (Qualifier – 24 September): UMT Markhors vs Lake City Panthers, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad at 3pm (local time)
Eliminator 1 (25 September): Allied Bank Stallions vs Nurpur Lions, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad at 3pm (local time)