Babar Azam shines in Stallions' 133-run victory

Allied Bank Stallions registered a 133-run win against Nurpur Lions in the second match of the Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup on Friday at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. Lions were bundled out for 203 in 39.3 overs while chasing 337-run target.

Stallions' Mohammad Ali and Jahandad Khan reduced the Lions to 22-3 in 6 overs taking two and one wicket, respectively with the new ball. Hussain Talat, who removed Sharoon Siraj (28, 38b, 4x4s, 1x6) and Haris Rauf, who dismissed Khushdil Shah (19, 29b, 2x4s, 1x6) further troubled Lions with the scorecard reading 107-5 in 24 overs.

Imam-ul-Haq resisted with a fighting half-century (78, 83b, 6x4s, 1x6) but in vain as he fell to Jahandad in the 34th over. Aamer Yamin and Shaheen Shah Afridi's 22 from 21 balls each was not enough as Lions lost their last five wickets for 96 runs, falling 133 runs short. Haris returned with the figures of 3-43 in 7.3 overs.

Earlier, after electing to bat first, the Stallions notched a healthy total of 336-5 courtesy half-centuries from Babar Azam, Tayyab Tahir, Mohammad Haris and Hussain Talat.

After the opening duo of Yasir Khan (13, 18b, 2x4s) and Shan Masood (41, 53b, 6x4s) returned to the dug-out with the scorecard reading 74-2, Babar and Tayyab kept the Stallions innings intact with a 114-run third-wicket stand.

Babar, who scored 76 off 79 balls with the help of nine fours, was dismissed by Shaheen in 35th over while Tayyab departed in 39th over after scoring a fluent 72-ball 74 hitting seven fours and two maximums.

Haris and Hussain steered the Stallions innings past 300-run mark with brisk half-centuries while also putting on a breezy 88-run fifth-wicket stand off just 53 balls.

Haris, batting at No.5, smashed four fours and as many sixes in his 36-ball stay on the crease accumulating 55 runs while Hussain remained unbeaten for 50 off 33 balls which included six fours and a solitary six.

Jahandad Khan scored 20 off 11 including two fours meant Stallions finished with 118-runs in the last 60 balls. For Lions, Shaheen and Aamir Jamal picked up two wickets each while Faisal Akram dismissed one batter.

Scores in brief

Allied Bank Stallions won by 133 runs

Allied Bank Stallions 336-5, 50 overs (Babar Azam 76, Tayyab Tahir 74, Mohammad Haris 55, Hussain Talat 50, Shan Masood 41; Aamir Jamal 2-60, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-63, Faisal Akram 1-40)

Nurpur Lions 203 all out, 39.3 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 78, Sharoon Siraj 28, Aamer Yamin 22, Shaheen Shah Afridi 22; Haris Rauf 3-43, Mohammad Ali 2-18, Jahandad Khan 2-33)

Player of the match: Babar Azam (Allied Bank Stallions). PCB