Champions One Day Cup 2024 Final Highlights: Shadab's Panthers Defeat Iftikhar's Markhors In Thrilling Final

Champions One Day Cup 2024 Final Highlights [Source: @ProCricket10/x.com]

Panthers trounced Markhors by five wickets in the final of the inaugural Champions One-Day Cup on Sunday at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Here's the timeline of how PAN vs MAR panned out in Faisalabad:

Champions One Day Cup 2024 Final Highlights: Fakhar Zaman Steadies the Ship

Opening the innings, Markhors looked for a strong foundation with Zain Abbas and Fakhar Zaman at the crease. While Zain Abbas (6 off 8 balls) found it hard to find his rhythm, falling early to Mohammad Hasnain in the second over, Fakhar Zaman took the reins, anchoring the innings in the face of consistent pressure.

Kamran Ghulam (2 off 10 balls) followed soon after, trapped leg-before by Ali Raza, leaving Fakhar to steer the ship alongside wicketkeeper-batsman Haseebullah (27 off 48 balls). 

The pair brought some much-needed stability, putting up a 56-run partnership. But just as the Markhors began to claw their way back, Sajid Khan dealt a crucial blow, dismissing Haseebullah, sparking a collapse.

Zaman played with a cool head, scoring 46 off 49 balls, hitting five boundaries and one maximum, keeping the scoreboard ticking at a steady strike rate of 93.88. His calculated aggression was the silver lining in an otherwise shaky start.

Champions One Day Cup 2024 Final Highlights: Middle-Order Collapses Like a House of Cards

The fall of Haeebullah signalled the beginning of Markhors' collapse. Fakhar Zaman followed shortly after, leaving the team at 84-4. Skipper Iftikhar Ahmed (3 off 14 balls) never found his feet, falling leg-before to Hasnain in the 25th over.

His dismissal opened the floodgates as Muhammad Abdul Samad (0 off 3 balls) also fell to Hasnain, marking a disastrous phase for the Markhors, who slipped to 93-6.

Bismillah Khan (16 off 37 balls) tried to bring some respectability to the score but failed to accelerate. The tail-end provided little resistance as Akif Javed (8 off 8 balls), Mohammad Imran JNR (1 off 2 balls), and Shahnawaz Dahani (0 off 3 balls) fell in quick succession as Markhors were bowled out for 122 in 33.4 overs.

Champions One Day Cup 2024 Final Highlights: Hasnain and Minhas Shine with the Ball

Mohammad Hasnain's fiery spell (3/38) set the tone early, striking crucial blows. His pace and accuracy had the Markhors on the back foot throughout.

Arafat Minhas was the star of the show, however, with his remarkable figures of 2.4 overs, 1 maiden, 1 run, and 3 wickets, snuffing out any hopes of a late-order revival.

Champions One Day Cup 2024 Final Highlights: Abdul Wahid Bangalzai Leads from the Front

Panthers' openers Umar Siddiq and Abdul Wahid Bangalzai took to the crease with intent, knowing they had a modest target in sight. Umar Siddiq played a steady hand, knocking 19 off 21 balls before being castled by Shahnawaz Dahani, but it was Bangalzai who set the tone for the chase.

His fluent 41 off 43 deliveries, decorated with five boundaries and two sixes, gave the Panthers the upper hand. The two put on a 51-run stand in just 7.5 overs, laying the foundation for what seemed to be a comfortable chase.

After Siddiq's dismissal, Sajid Khan provided a brief cameo, contributing 15 off 13 balls, before falling leg-before to Akif Javed.

Champions One Day Cup 2024 Final Highlights:  Rizwan Mehmood and Shadab Khan Seal the Deal

As often happens in finals, pressure tends to rear its head at the worst possible moments. After Bangalzai was caught at deep mid-wicket off Mohammad Imran JNR’s bowling, the Panthers' chase hit a snag.

Usman Khan (13 off 8 balls) and Haider Ali (0 off 2 balls) followed suit in quick succession, leaving the Panthers reeling at 94-5 in the space of just 15 overs. Suddenly, the game appeared to be slipping from their grasp, with panic knocking on the door.

Enter Rizwan Mehmood and captain Shadab Khan. In true champion fashion, the duo steadied the ship, guiding the Panthers toward the finish line with a calm and calculated partnership. Mehmood’s unbeaten 16 off 12 balls, along with Shadab’s quickfire 14 off 9 balls, ensured the Panthers were never truly out of the game.

In the end, it was the Panthers' day as they etched their name on the Champions One Day Cup 2024 by displaying a mixture of flamboyant batting and calm finishing under pressure.

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