Panthers overcome spirited Dolphins side to get their first win in the Champions ODI Cup at Faisalabad yesterday.
Panthers get their first win of the tournament as they stifled the Dolphins to win the game by 50 runs. Usman Khan and Mohammad Hasnain were the pick of the performers for the Panthers.
With better conditions in Faisalabad in the first innings for batting, the Panthers scored 328 in their first innings. This was the third straight score of 300+ in the first innings.
This time, Shadab batted first without hesitation. As Mir Hamza forced both of the early openers out on single figures, his team faltered early on. Usman and Haider’s fifth-wicket partnership of 103 runs righted the ship and brought it back on course for the massive first-innings total.
In the final overs, the bowlers failed to stop the runs from flowing once more. The damage was mostly done even though Usman Qadir claimed three wickets in the last over.
The Dolphins got off to a strong start as openers Mohammad Hurraira and Farhan put up a 68-run partnership. However, Usama Mir and Shadab managed to overcome their collaboration.
After that, it was the Hasnain show. With characteristic rapidity, he continued to chip away at the intermediate order. While a few sixes hurt his overall bowling average, a 5/74 is still a respectable effort.
The game didn’t turn in his favour until he dismissed Qasim and Faheem Ashraf in the 42nd and 44th overs, and his five-for was a fitting reward for his efforts.
Qasim Akram’s 65 and a half-century from Sahibzada Farhan led Dolphins to the most spirited attempt at a chase. But Hasnain ripping through the middle order meant they always looked a bit shy of the target.