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Lions: 367/6 (Irfan 100*, Khushdil 73, Shafique 52, Imam 51) defeated Markhors: 332/9 (Fakhar 82, Salman 69, Yamin 2-54, Daniyal 2-66, Khushdil 2-67) by 35 runs
In an exhilarating match of the Champions One-Day Cup, Irfan Khan’s blazing 100 off 56 balls and Khushdil Shah’s brilliant all-round display guided the Lions to their first victory. This win also ended the unbeaten run of table-toppers, the Markhors. With all eight matches of the Champions One-Day Cup so far being won by teams batting first, the trend continued as Lions capitalized on setting a high target.
Abdullah Shafique (52) and Imam-ul-Haq (51) set the stage for the Lions with a 110-run opening partnership, forming the backbone of their innings. Omair Yousuf (30) and Mohammad Taha (31) continued the momentum, guiding the team through the middle overs.
However, both batsmen fell quickly, with Zahid Mahmood dismissing the openers, and Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Imran removing Yousuf and Taha. At 181/4, Khushdil and Irfan came together, taking the game to the Markhors and propelling the Lions to a formidable score.
Lions Dominate with 147-run Partnership in the Champions One-Day Cup
Irfan and Khushdil’s 147-run stand in just 80 balls was the turning point of the game. Their aggressive batting saw 12 boundaries and 8 sixes as they pushed the Lions past 300 by the 45th over. Khushdil’s explosive 73 from 45 balls ended with a brilliant knock, while Irfan continued his onslaught, reaching his century in the final moments of the innings. His quickfire two sixes and two fours in the last 10 balls helped Lions finish at a massive 367/6, marking one of the most remarkable batting displays in the Champions One-Day Cup.
Fakhar’s Early Blitz and Markhors’ Struggles in the Champions One-Day Cup Chase
Markhors started their chase strongly, with Fakhar Zaman attacking early and punishing Shaheen Shah Afridi. Despite an 80-run powerplay, Ahmed Daniyal’s key breakthroughs—removing Bismillah Khan and Kamran Ghulam—halted their progress.
Khushdil’s impact wasn’t limited to batting alone. His bowling turned the match further in the Lions’ favor as he dismissed Fakhar and Iftikhar. The Markhors’ chase began to falter, and captain Mohammad Rizwan’s run-out in the 33rd over added to their woes, leaving them needing 176 runs from 108 balls.
Champions One-Day Cup Victory Slips Away from Markhors
Abdul Samad (42) and Salman Agha (69) did their best to keep the chase alive, but it was too little, too late. Just as they began to rebuild, Aamer Yamin and Shaheen Shah Afridi struck crucial blows, taking key wickets to derail their effort. The Champions One-Day Cup contest concluded with the Lions sealing a 35-run victory, firmly placing themselves on the scoreboard.
The Lions’ win, thanks to Irfan and Khushdil’s combined brilliance, marks a critical moment in the Champions One-Day Cup, breaking the Markhors’ undefeated streak and setting the stage for more thrilling contests ahead.
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