In an exhilarating match at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, the Dolphins triumphed over the Lions by 16 runs in the 10th game of the Champions One-Day Cup. The Lions, under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi, attempted to chase down a target of 327 runs but ended their innings at 310/8 after the full quota of 50 overs.
After winning the toss, the Dolphins opted to bat first and amassed a commendable total of 326 runs. Umar Amin spearheaded the innings with a robust 75 runs from 81 balls, while wicketkeeper Muhammad Akhlaq contributed significantly with 52 runs off 50 deliveries. Opening batsman Mohammad Huraira also played a crucial role, scoring 47 runs off 41 balls. Additionally, Qasim Akram added a swift 31 runs from 26 balls, and Faheem Ashraf entertained the crowd with a quick 30 runs off 20 balls, solidifying the Dolphins’ innings.
The Lions’ bowling attack, led by Aamir Jamal, who claimed three wickets, strived to limit the Dolphins’ scoring. Shaheen Afridi and Ahmed Daniyal each took two wickets, while Khushdil Shah and Sharoon Siraj each chipped in with one wicket.
In their response, the Lions began their chase positively but soon lost momentum. Rohail Nazir and Mohammad Taha were the standout contributors, scoring 62 runs off 70 balls and 40 runs off 49 balls, respectively. Abdullah Shafique (27 runs off 42 balls), Omair Yousuf (26 runs off 27 balls), and Sharoon Siraj (25 runs off 18 balls) made efforts to build partnerships but struggled to maintain the necessary run rate.
Towards the conclusion of the match, Khushdil Shah (60 runs) and Shaheen Afridi (33 runs) offered a glimmer of hope with a late surge, but their contributions fell short of leading the Lions to victory.
The Dolphins’ bowlers delivered a well-rounded performance, with captain Saud Shakeel and Abbas Afridi each taking two wickets. Mir Hamza, Sufiyan Muqeem, Faheem Ashraf, and Qasim Akram each contributed one wicket, effectively restricting the Lions to a total of 310.
With this victory, the Dolphins demonstrated their prowess in the Champions One-Day Cup, leaving the Lions to contemplate their missed chances in the chase.
