Champions T20 Cup: Markhors defeat Lions in thrilling opener

The Champions T20 Cup kicked off with an exciting match, as the Markhors secured a 4-wicket victory over the Lions in the opening match. Led by their captain Iftikhar Ahmed, the Markhors chased down the target of 151 runs with an over to spare, setting the tone for an action-packed tournament at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.  

Batting first, the Lions, captained by Imam-ul-Haq, posted a respectable total of 150 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted overs. Mohammad Owais top-scored with an unbeaten 40 runs, while Hasan Nawaz contributed 22 runs. Other notable performances included Rohail Nazir's 16 runs and Imam-ul-Haq's 13.  

The Markhors’ bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with Sarwar Afridi, Saad Masood, and Nisar each claiming two wickets.  

In reply, the Markhors relied on a stellar unbeaten knock of 42 runs by their captain, Iftikhar Ahmed, to seal the win. Opener Fakhar Zaman added a quick 28, while Saad Masood chipped in with 26 crucial runs. Despite a valiant effort by Mohammad Salman, who took three wickets, the Lions couldn’t prevent the Markhors from chasing down the target in 19 overs.  

The day’s second match saw the Stags overpowering the Panthers with a convincing 35-run victory. Batting first, the Stags set a massive target of 216 runs, thanks to a magnificent century by Hussain Talat. Talat smashed 101 runs off just 50 balls in a brilliant display of aggressive batting.  

The Panthers, despite their best efforts, managed only 181 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted overs, falling short of the target.