Saim Ayub the star as Panthers stave off the Stallions in a close and competitive game here at Faisalabad yesterday.
Saim Ayub scored a masterful 156 as the Panthers did just enough to hold off the Stallions in another high-scoring encounter.
The ninth game of the Champions Cup saw teams continue their winning streak of batting first. Saim Ayub hit 156 off 130 balls, including seven sixes and 13 fours, to help the Panthers record a formidable 344. Azan Awais provided Ayub with excellent support as they accumulated 138 runs for the first wicket.
Usman Khan joined Ayub when Awais was dismissed, and the two hammered 116 in just 79 balls. Usman was out for 75 from 47 balls, but Ayub persisted and helped the team reach 300. But after that, the Panthers lost wickets quickly and were only able to score thirty in the final five overs.
The stallions’ pursuit did not get off to a good start. They had lost Babar Azam, Shan Masood, and Muhammad Haris in the first seven overs.
With a 157-run partnership for the fourth wicket, Hussain Talat and Tayyab Tahir kept the Stallions in the game. But the asking rate continued going up. The needed rate was almost 10 when Mubasir Khan broke the stand in the 35th over, removing Talat for 63.
In the 39th over, Tahir reached his hundred, but he was out shortly after. Zaman Khan looked like he would perform a miracle as the Stallions required 73 in the final four overs with just two wickets remaining. Despite his spectacular 42 off 16 balls, Stallions were ultimately defeated by 20 runs.