Champions Cup: Panthers clinch title with victory over Dolphins

FAISALABAD: The Panthers emerged victorious in the Champions Cup by defeating Dolphins by 50 runs in an exciting final on Saturday.

The one-day international (ODI) tournament final saw Panthers set a target of 329 runs that the Dolphins were unable to chase down.

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The Panthers, channeling their inner panther, demonstrated a strong batting performance, scoring 328 runs in 50 overs. Usman Khan scored over a century that included three 6s and eleven 4s! He helped lay down a solid ground for the team.

Usman Khan was supported in his explosive bowling by Hyder Ali and Shadab Khan, who scored 63 and 65 runs respectively.

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In response, the Dolphins tried their best but lacked the fire of the Panthers. Qasim Akram was the standout batter from the Dolphins’ side as he scored 65 runs. Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan scored 52, and Muhammad Hurraira 39 runs.

The Panthers’ bowling was as formidable as their vatting, with Muhammad Hasnain leading the charge by taking five wickets! This helped significantly hinder Dolphins’ progress.

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Similarly, Usama Mir and Mubasir Khan each took two wickets each, while Shadab Khan claimed a single wicket.

Usman Qadir was instrumental in the bowling, as he took three wickets and helped restrict Dolphins’ scoring opportunities the most.

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Despite their batters’ efforts, the Dolphins fell short of the monumental target, petering out at 278 runs, resulting in a 50-run defeat.

As the Champion Cup concludes, the Pathers will look to build on their success in future while the Dolphins have to regroup and strategise better for next time.