Champions One-Day Cup: Lions defeat Stallions by 12 runs in first eliminator

In the first Eliminator round of the Champions One-Day Cup held at Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium, the Lions secured a thrilling 12-run victory over the Stallions on Wednesday. Despite a strong fight from Mohammad Haris’ Stallions, they were bowled out for 251 in 49.4 overs, falling short of the 264-run target set by the Lions.

The Lions, led by Imam-ul-Haq, won the toss and chose to bat first. However, their innings didn’t get off to the best of starts. After facing just eight balls, top-order batsman Rohail Nazir was bowled out for only four runs by Ubaid Shah in the second over of the match. Shortly after, Imam-ul-Haq was sent back to the pavilion for 23 runs off 32 balls, also courtesy of an impressive effort by Ubaid Shah, who took a stunning catch.

The early dismissals meant the Lions were under pressure, but they were able to stabilize thanks to some solid performances from the middle-order. Mohammad Taha, though missing out on a half-century, played a vital knock, scoring 47 runs off 59 balls, hitting two fours and two sixes along the way. His contribution helped the Lions build momentum.

Aamer Yamin and Ahmed Daniyal were the standout performers for the Lions with the bat. Aamer Yamin scored 46 runs off 57 balls, playing a critical role in steadying the innings. Unfortunately, his innings came to an end when he was run out by Stallions’ captain Mohammad Haris in the 44th over. Nevertheless, his efforts provided a much-needed boost to the Lions’ total.

The most notable performance, however, came from Ahmed Daniyal, who made 65 runs off just 59 balls. He hit five sixes in the last over of the Lions’ innings, propelling the total to a competitive 263/9. His power hitting at the end ensured that the Lions posted a formidable score. His partnership with the tail-end batsmen, including Faisal Akram, was instrumental in giving the Lions a respectable target to defend.

On the bowling front for the Stallions, Ubaid Shah was the star performer, taking three wickets and consistently troubling the Lions’ batsmen. Haris Rauf also managed to take a wicket, while Adil Amin and Maaz Sadaqat chipped in with two wickets each, helping restrict the Lions’ score and keep the game within reach.

Chasing 264, the Stallions started positively, with opener Yasir Khan scoring 39 runs off 41 balls, including seven boundaries. He looked set for a bigger score but was dismissed leg-before-wicket by Faisal Akram in the 15th over. His opening partner, Maaz Sadaqat, also made a decent contribution with 27 runs, hitting four boundaries before he was caught behind by Rohail Nazir, the Lions’ wicketkeeper.

Following the dismissals of the openers, the middle-order batsmen worked hard to keep the Stallions in the chase. Hussain Talat added 32 runs off 41 balls before being dismissed, and Tayyab Tahir, who came in at number four, managed to score 28 runs before he was sent back to the pavilion. Despite these contributions, the Stallions’ batsmen struggled to build a substantial partnership, with most of them getting starts but failing to convert them into big scores.

Captain Mohammad Haris tried to anchor the innings, scoring 30 runs, but couldn’t guide his team to victory. His dismissal in the late stages of the match put additional pressure on the lower order to chase down the remaining runs.

Zaman Khan, who came in towards the end, managed to score 6 runs off 7 balls, but it wasn’t enough to turn the game around. The match came down to the final over, with the Stallions needing a significant contribution from Jahandad Khan. Jahandad fought valiantly, scoring 36 runs off 32 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes. However, he was run out by Aamer Yamin on the penultimate ball of the match, sealing the Lions’ 12-run victory.

The Lions’ bowling attack played a crucial role in defending their total. Sirajuddin, Sharoon Siraj, and Faisal Akram each took a wicket, but the standout bowlers were Ahmed Daniyal and Khushdil Shah, both of whom took three wickets apiece. Their combined efforts ensured that the Stallions never got too comfortable during their chase.

In the post-match presentation, Ahmed Daniyal was named Player of the Series for his all-round performance, particularly his explosive batting in the first innings and his key wickets during the Stallions’ chase. His contributions proved vital in the Lions securing the win and advancing to the next round of the tournament.

Overall, it was a well-fought match, with both teams showing moments of brilliance, but in the end, the Lions held their nerve to come out on top. This victory puts them in a strong position as they move forward in the Champions One-Day Cup.