Babar Azam top scored before Haris Rauf cleaned up as Stallions won their first match of the Champions One-Day Cup, Pakistan's revamped domestic 50-over tournament.
The Stallions side took on the Lions on the second day of action in the competition. Having elected to bat first, Shan Masood put on 41 after Yasir Khan was caught behind for 13 off Aamer Jamal. Babar came to the crease in the powerplay, and took his time getting off the mark while Masood attacked at the other end.
Babar soon got going however, crunching a four off Khushdil Shah before giving Faisal Akram the same treatment. He reached his half-century off 57 balls having taken Stallions to 144-2 at the end of the 18th over. With Tayyab Tahir at the crease, the partnership put on 104 runs with Babar before the latter was dismissed between Shaheen Shah Afridi for 76 off 79 balls.
From there, Tahir, Mohammad Haris and Hussain Talat all reached half-centuries, taking Stallions to an impressive 336-5 at the end of their innings.
Lions didn't start well in their response. Sajjad Ali was out for a four-ball duck in the first over to leave the side 1-1. Abdullah Shafique and Omair Yousuf then both fell for single digit scores to leave Lions 22-3 at the end of the sixth over. That was effectively the chase over before it had really started. Imam-ul-haq was the only point of resistance, top-scoring with an 83-ball 78.
However, he was dismissed in the 34th over by Jahandad Khan, the eighth Lions wicket to fall, leaving Rauf to polish off the tail. He did so in consecutive overs, first getting Shaheen before finishing the game with the wicket of Sirajuddin. Lions were bowled out for 203 with over 10 overs remaining in the innings, with Stallions winning the game by 133 runs.
Stallions will next play on Sunday, September 15, where they will face Markhors, who recording a huge victory in the opening match of the tournament against Panthers.
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