Babar Azam made history by smashing his 30th List-A century, becoming the first Pakistan batter to reach this remarkable milestone. His unbeaten knock of 104 led Allied Bank Stallions to a dominating 174-run victory over Engro Dolphins at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, on Thursday evening.
For the second consecutive game, Engro Dolphins struggled in their chase, collapsing to 97 all out in pursuit of a 272-run target. This followed their previous day’s dismal performance of 192 all out. The win propelled Stallions to their second victory in three games, securing a spot in the playoff stage alongside UMT Markhors and Lake City Panthers. Meanwhile, Dolphins’ third consecutive loss puts them in a must-win situation, as they now face Lions on 22 September to battle for the last playoff spot.
Babar’s flawless innings of 104 came off 100 balls and featured seven fours and three sixes, including a boundary off the penultimate ball to bring up his century. Yasir Khan (46 off 58 balls), Shan Masood (34 off 36 balls), and Tayyab Tahir (33 off 49 balls) also contributed valuable runs for Stallions.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Stallions got off to a steady start with a 76-run opening partnership between Yasir and Shan. Babar’s partnership with Tayyab added 57 for the third wicket, while his 46-run stand with Husaain Talat (23 off 25 balls) for the fifth wicket further solidified the innings. Haris Rauf chipped in with just three runs during a crucial 41-run eighth-wicket stand with Babar.
In response, Engro Dolphins never got going. Jahandad Khan’s early three-wicket burst left them reeling at 40-3, and from there, the collapse continued. Mehran Mumtaz and Jahandad finished with identical figures of 3-14 and 3-18, respectively, while Abrar Ahmed picked up two key wickets, including top scorers Sahibzada Farhan (32 off 36 balls) and Asif Ali (21 off 28 balls). Haris Rauf added two wickets to his tally as Dolphins were bowled out for just 97 in 25 overs.
Match Summary:
- Allied Bank Stallions: 271-7 in 50 overs (Babar Azam 104 not out, Yasir Khan 46, Shan Masood 34, Tayyab Tahir 33; Saud Shakeel 1-14, Qasim Akram 1-42, Faheem Ashraf 1-48)
- Engro Dolphins: 97 all out in 25 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 32, Asif Ali 21; Mehran Mumtaz 3-14, Jahandad Khan 3-18, Abrar Ahmed 2-15, Haris Rauf 2-28)
Player of the Match: Babar Azam (Allied Bank Stallions)
This victory not only keeps the Stallions’ campaign alive but also cements Babar Azam’s legendary status as he continues to break records with his impeccable form.
