Lake City Panthers Clinch Inaugural Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup

Lake City Panthers emerged as the winners of the inaugural Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup, defeating UMT Markhors by five wickets in the final at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, on Sunday evening.

The Panthers bowled out the Markhors for just 122 runs in 33.4 overs after the latter chose to bat first. They then chased down the target in 18 overs, with five wickets in hand, as captain Shadab Khan sealed the win with a six. Abdul Wahid Bangalzai was the top scorer for the Panthers, contributing 41 off 43 balls, including five fours and two sixes.

Earlier, Arafat Minhas (3-1) and Mohammad Hasnain (3-38), who ended with a tournament tally of 17 wickets, along with a player of the match performance by Sajid Khan (2-24), dismantled the Markhors' batting lineup. The Markhors collapsed from 82-2 in 18.2 overs to 122 all out in 33.4 overs. Shadab Khan and Ali Raza each took a wicket as well.

After early setbacks left the Markhors at 26-2 in 5.3 overs, Haseebullah (27 off 48 balls, 3 fours) and Fakhar Zaman, who top scored with 46 off 49 balls (5 fours, 1 six), added a 56-run third-wicket partnership. Off-spinner Sajid Khan dismissed both set batters in the 19th and 21st overs, leading to a batting collapse as the Markhors lost their last eight wickets in 15.2 overs. Apart from Haseebullah and Fakhar, only Bismillah Khan (16 off 37 balls, 2 fours) reached double figures for the Markhors.

In response, the Panthers’ openers quickly reached 51 in 7.4 overs before Umar Siddiq fell for 19, hitting three fours. Sajid Khan (15 off 13 balls, 2 fours, 1 six), promoted to bat at No. 3, was the second batter to be dismissed. The Markhors kept striking, reducing the Panthers from 51-1 to 94-5 in 15 overs.

Usman Khan, the tournament's top run-scorer with 272 runs in six matches, contributed 13 off eight balls with a four and a six. Rizwan Mehmood (16 not out off 12 balls, 3 fours) and Shadab Khan (14 off 9 balls, 1 four, 1 six) added 29 runs for the sixth wicket, taking their team to victory.

For the Markhors, Mohammad Imran Jnr and Akif Javed took two wickets each, while Shahnawaz Dahani claimed one.

Final: Lake City Panthers beat UMT Markhors by five wickets

UMT Markhors 122 all out in 33.4 overs (Fakhar Zaman 46, Haseebullah 27; Arafat Minhas 3-1, Mohammad Hasnain 3-38, Sajid Khan 2-24, Ali Raza 1-19, Shadab Khan 1-20)

Lake City Panthers 123-5 in 18 overs (Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 41, Umar Siddiq 19, Rizwan Mehmood 16 not out, Sajid Khan 15, Shadab Khan 14 not out; Mohammad Imran Jnr 2-11, Akif Javed 2-42)

Awards:
Bahria Town Player of the match: Sajid Khan (Lake City Panthers)
Mentors' choice Emerging Player of the Tournament: Ali Raza - Lake City Panthers (Four wickets)
Trans Group Wicket-keeper of the Tournament: Usman Khan – Lake City Panthers (7 dismissals)
Inverex Solar Energy Energetic Batter of the Tournament: Usman Khan – Lake City Panthers (272 runs)
Trans Group Best Bowler of the Tournament: Mohammad Hasnain – Lake City Panthers (17 wickets)
Bahria Town Player of the Tournament: Mohammad Hasnain – Lake City Panthers (17 wickets)