Markhors secured their third consecutive victory by defeating Dolphins by 92 runs in Faisalabad, thanks to Kamran Ghulam's second century in three games and key bowling efforts from Mohammad Imran and Salman Agha. This win further solidified Markhors' position at the top of the points table.
Ghulam, in fine form, smashed 113 off 110 deliveries, forming a crucial 122-run partnership for the third wicket with Mohammad Rizwan, who contributed a steady 51. This partnership helped Markhors reach 284 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Dolphins, who had chosen to field first, faced a tough task in response.
Mir Hamza gave Dolphins a promising start by dismissing openers Bismillah Khan and Mohammad Faizan early in the innings. However, Ghulam, continuing his momentum from a century against Panthers the previous week, anchored the innings with Rizwan to steer the Markhors towards a competitive total. Although Faheem Ashraf claimed four wickets for Dolphins, they struggled to restrict the Markhors to a lower score.
In the chase, Dolphins faltered from the outset. Opener Mohammad Hurraira fell for a duck, and Muhammad Akhlaq followed soon after, dismissed by Naseem Shah. While Saud Shakeel fought back with a determined 41, he found little support from his teammates. Asif Ali’s quickfire 50 off 43 balls offered some resistance, but Dolphins never built any lasting partnerships.
Dolphins were eventually bowled out for 192 in 43.5 overs. Markhors’ bowlers shared the workload, with six different bowlers taking at least one wicket each. Imran and Agha led the way with three wickets apiece.
This defeat left Dolphins without a point in the tournament, marking their second loss.