In a closely fought contest at the Bahria Town Champions T20 Cup, the Nurpur Lions emerged victorious with a narrow 8-run win over the Lake City Panthers. The match featured a brilliant half-century from Imam-ul-Haq, whose explosive 57 off 36 balls set the tone for the Lions’ innings, while Sharoon Siraj’s pivotal bowling performance sealed the win in a thrilling finish.

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Date	December 19, 2024
Venue	Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Tournament	Bahria Town Champions T20 Cup 2024/25
Result	Nurpur Lions won by 8 runs
Player of the Match	Sharoon Siraj (Nurpur Lions)

Lake City Panthers won the toss and elected to field first, aiming to chase down the target set by Nurpur Lions.

Nurpur Lions

• Imam-ul-Haq : Top-scored with a brisk 57, setting up a competitive total.
• Sharoon Siraj : Delivered a match-winning spell, taking 3 crucial wickets.

Lake City Panthers

• Usama Mir (Lake City Panthers): Claimed 4 wickets, restricting the Lions’ scoring in the middle overs.

Nurpur Lions Innings

Batting first, Nurpur Lions posted a total of 160 runs before being all out in 19.2 overs. Key contributions included:

• Imam-ul-Haq: 57 runs off 36 balls, including 8 fours and 1 six, providing a solid foundation.
• Hasan Nawaz: 41 runs off 22 balls, with 4 fours and 3 sixes, delivering an aggressive start.

Lake City Panthers’ bowling highlights:

• Usama Mir: 4 overs, 23 runs, 4 wickets, showcasing exceptional spin bowling.
• Mohammad Wasim Jnr: 3.2 overs, 22 runs, 2 wickets, contributing crucial breakthroughs.

Lake City Panthers Innings

Chasing a target of 161, Lake City Panthers managed to score 152 for 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs, falling short by 8 runs. Notable performances included:

• Umar Siddiq: 38 runs off 28 balls, including 4 fours and 1 six, anchoring the top order.
• Danish Aziz: An unbeaten 38 runs off 27 balls, with 5 fours, fighting valiantly till the end.

Nurpur Lions’ bowling was led by:

• Sharoon Siraj: 3 overs, 19 runs, 3 wickets, earning him the Player of the Match award.
• Musa Khan: 4 overs, 31 runs, 1 wicket, maintaining pressure throughout.

• Strong Opening Stand: The Lions’ openers, Imam-ul-Haq and Hasan Nawaz, provided a rapid start, adding 85 runs for the first wicket.
• Middle-Order Collapse: Despite the strong start, Nurpur Lions experienced a middle-order collapse, losing wickets at regular intervals.
• Tight Finish: Lake City Panthers fought hard in the chase but were unable to accelerate sufficiently in the final overs, leading to a narrow defeat.

In a closely contested match, Nurpur Lions emerged victorious over Lake City Panthers by a narrow margin of 8 runs. The foundation laid by Imam-ul-Haq’s half-century and the decisive bowling performance by Sharoon Siraj were instrumental in securing the win. Despite a valiant effort from the Panthers, particularly from Danish Aziz, they fell just short in the chase. This victory enhances the Lions’ standing in the Bahria Town Champions T20 Cup 2024/25, showcasing their resilience and ability to perform under pressure