The ninth game of the Champions Cup continued the trend of teams batting first securing victory, as the Panthers edged out the Stallions by 20 runs.
After opting to bat, the Panthers built their imposing total of 344 for 7, largely thanks to Saim Ayub’s spectacular knock of 156 off 130 balls, featuring 13 fours and seven sixes. Ayub was well-supported by Azan Awais, with the pair putting on a strong 138-run partnership for the opening wicket.
Following Awais' dismissal, Usman Khan joined Ayub at the crease, and the duo piled on 116 runs from just 79 deliveries. Usman’s quick-fire 75 off 47 balls helped accelerate the innings, while Ayub carried the team past the 300-mark by the 44th over. However, after Ayub’s departure, the Panthers struggled to maintain momentum, managing only 30 runs in the last five overs.
The Stallions faced early setbacks in their chase, losing key players Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, and Babar Azam within the first seven overs.
Hussain Talat and Tayyab Tahir revived the innings with a 157-run stand for the fourth wicket, keeping the Stallions in the hunt. But as the run rate continued to climb, Mubasir Khan broke the partnership in the 35th over, dismissing Talat for 63 and pushing the required rate close to ten runs per over.
Tahir reached his century in the 39th over but was dismissed shortly afterward, leaving the Stallions with an uphill task. With just two wickets left and 73 runs needed in the final four overs, Zaman Khan nearly orchestrated a miraculous finish by smashing 42 off 16 balls. Despite his valiant effort, the Stallions ultimately fell 20 runs short of the target.
Brief Scores:
Panthers 344/7 (Saim Ayub 156, Usman Khan 75, Zaman Khan 4-90) defeated Stallions 324 (Tayyab Tahir 109, Hussain Talat 63, Mubasir Khan 3-77) by 20 runs.