Irfan, Khushdil hand Lions maiden win in high-scoring game
Written by I Dig SportsLions 367 for 6 (Irfan 100, Khushdil 73, Shafique 52, Imam 51, Zahid 2-49) beat Markhors 332 for 9 (Fakhar 82, Salman 69, Yamin 2-54, Daniyal 2-66, Khushdil 2-67) by 35 runs
Abdullah Shafique (52) and Imam-ul-Haq (51) laid the platform for Lions with a 110-run opening stand to allow Omair Yousuf (30) and Mohammad Taha (31) to cruise along in the middle overs.
The duo hit 12 fours and eight sixes in their 147-run fifth-wicket stand, off just 79 balls, as Lions breezed past 300 in the 45th over. Khushdil fell and Irfan was on 73 with three overs to go. Irfan was part of Aamer Yamin being run out but carried on to finish with an unbeaten 100 and lift Lions to 367 for 6.
The wickets slowed Markhors down and Khushdil got Fakhar and Iftikhar to further derail the chase. Mohammad Rizwan was run out in the 33rd over and handy knocks from Abdul Samad (42) and Salman Agha (69) took Markhors past 300. But Yamin and Afridi took out the lower order to seal the win for Lions.