Left-arm pacer Kaleem Sana returned exceptional figures of 3/8 before a sparkling half-century by Chris Lynn led Montreal Tigers to a statement seven-wicket victory over Mississauga Panthers in GT20. Put into bat first, the Panthers could accumulate a modest total of 140/6 in the allotted 20 overs despite James Neesham’s unbeaten half-century. The Panthers had a shaky start to their innings as they were two down for a mere eight inside two overs. After losing back-to-back wickets, Azam Khan and Navneet Dhaliwal stitched a crucial 45-run stand for the third wicket until the former’s departure in the ninth over. Azam scored 26 off 19 deliveries with the help of two boundaries and two sixes.

James Neesham joined Dhaliwal in the middle after Azam’s dismissal and the pair added a cautious 41-run partnership for the fourth wicket before the latter perished in the 15th over. Dhaliwal scored 46 but remained too slow as he conceded 47 deliveries. The Panthers then lost two more quick wickets but Neesham waged a lone battle with an unbeaten half-century and bolstered the score at the backend. His 35-ball 54 featured four boundaries and two sixes. Kaleem Sana led the bowling attack for the Tigers with 3/8, followed by Carlos Brathwaite’s 2/21 while Shakib Al Hasan made one scalp.

The Tigers comfortably accumulated 141 for the loss of just three wickets with 25 balls to spare, thanks to a brilliant half-century by Chris Lynn. The Tigers had a contrasting start to the run chase as they lost Muhammad Waseem (4) in the second over with just 12 runs on board. Following the early blow, skipper Lynn and Shakib Al Hasan anchored the run chase with a brisk 60-run partnership before Usman Qadir dismissed the latter in the ninth over. Shakib scored 36 from 24 balls, laced up with five boundaries and two sixes.

Sherfane Rutherford then played an important 27-run cameo but perished in the 15th over when his side was 10 runs away from victory. Meanwhile, Lynn carried his bat all the way through and steered his side over the line. He top-scored for the Tigers with a 45-ball 64 which featured nine boundaries and a six. For the Panthers, Jaskaran Singh, Parveen Kumar and Usman Qadir could pick a wicket each.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)