Nurpur Lions beat Lake City Panthers in crucial match

RAWALPINDI, DEC 19 (APP/DNA):Nurpur Lions paceman Shahid Aziz successfully defended 16 runs to give his team an eight-run win over Lake City Panthers in the Bahria Town Champions T20 Cup crucial match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Lake City Panthers, set 161 to win, finished on 152-6 in their allotted overs with Danish Aziz scoring an unbeaten 38 off 27 balls with five boundaries. Opener Umar Siddiq scored a 28-ball 38, hitting one six and four boundaries.

Sajid Khan struck two sixes in his eight-ball 17 while Amad Butt scored an unbeaten 13-ball 16 but those were not enough. For Lions, spinner Sharoon Siraj bagged three wickets for 19.

The victory gives Nurpur Lions eight points from seven matches and a better net run-rate lifts them to second. UMT Markhors are top of the table with 10 points while ABL Stallions are third with eight points.

The defeat leaves Lake City Panthers on fourth with six points while Engro Dolphins are pointless with six defeats in as many matches.

Sent into bat, Nurpur Lions had a solid start with Imam-ul-Haq and Hasan Nawaz putting 85 in 7.2 overs. Imam cracked eight boundaries and a six in his 36-ball 57 while Hasan’s 22-ball 41 were spiced with three sixes and four boundaries. But once Nawaz fell to spinner Sajid Khan the innings fell apart.

Nurpur Lions slumped from 110-1 to 160 all out with four balls of the stipulated 20 overs remaining unused.

Shahzaib Khan 16 and Khushdil Shah with 13 were the other batters with double figures. Leg-spinner Usama Mir returned with figures of 4-23 in his four overs while pacer Mohammad Wasim Jnr took 2-22.

Scores in brief:

Nurpur Lions beat Lake City Panthers by eight runs

Nurpur Lions 160 all out in 19.2 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 57, Hasan Nawaz 41, Shahzaib Khan 16; Usama Mir 4-23, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-22)

Lake City Panthers 152-6 in 20 overs (Danish Aziz 38 not out, Umar Siddiq 38; Sharoon Siraj 3-19)

Player of the match – Sharoon Siraj