Babar ton and Jahandad’s three-for keep Dolphins away from victory.

Stallions 271 for 7 (Babar 104*, Yasir 46, Shakeel 1-14) beat Dolphins 97 (Farhan 32, Mumtaz 3-14, Jahandad 3-18) by 174 runs

Babar Azam’s impressive unbeaten score of 104 runs off 100 deliveries, combined with Jahandad Khan’s three wickets with the new ball, led to the Dolphins suffering their third consecutive defeat, as the Stallions achieved a commanding 174-run victory in Faisalabad. This outcome also highlighted a trend in the tournament, where teams batting first have emerged victorious in all seven matches played thus far. After the Stallions chose to bat, Shan Masood and Yasir Khan provided a solid opening partnership of 76 runs in just 13 overs. Faheem Ashraf interrupted their momentum by claiming Masood’s wicket, which slowed the scoring rate. Yasir followed suit shortly after, but Babar expertly anchored the innings. He formed a crucial partnership of 57 runs for the third wicket with Tayyab Tahir, guiding the team to a total of 150 by the 30th over. The Dolphins employed six bowlers throughout the match, each managing to take a wicket, yet Babar remained resolute. By the end of the 40th over, he had scored 50 runs off 65 balls. In the final ten overs, he accelerated his scoring, amassing 54 runs off 35 balls, including three fours and three sixes, propelling the Stallions to a total of 271 for 7. As the Dolphins began their chase, Jahandad quickly dashed their hopes by dismissing Muhammad Hurraira for a duck with the second ball of the innings. He followed up by trapping Umar Amin lbw, leaving the Dolphins struggling at 15 for 2. Sahibzada Farhan and Saud Shakeel managed to hit five fours in the next 20 balls, but Jahandad struck again, clean bowling Shakeel shortly thereafter. Haris Rauf then took two wickets in quick succession, dismissing Sarfaraz Ahmed and Qasim Akram, which left the Dolphins reeling at 60 for 5. The lower middle order offered little resistance against the spin attack of Abrar Ahmed and Mehran Mumtaz, who collectively took five wickets, resulting in the Dolphins being bowled out for just 97 runs.