Faisalabad: Naseem Shah’s (3-27) bowling brilliance and Kamran Ghulam’s blistering 102-ball 115 powered Markhors over comfortable 160-run victory against Panthers to launch Champions One-Day Cup at Iqbal Stadium here.

Chasing staggering target of 347-6, Panthers were skittled out for 187 inside 35 overs. None of Panthers’ batters could improvise with exception of all-rounder Amad Butt, who racked up an 84-ball 72, after he turned out to be the most expensive of the Panthers’ bowlers. He clobbered nine boundaries and three sixes, before he was removed by Zahid Mahmood. Other of the Panthers’ batters, who showed some resistance were Mubasir Khan (33 off 31), Usama Mir (21 off 20), and Saim Ayub (20 off 14). Meanwhile, Abdul Bangalzai (4), Azan Awais (1), Usman Khan (8), Haider Ali (2), Shadab Khan (4), and Mohammad Hasnain (2) could not show any significant resistance with the bat.

Mohammad Zeeshan (1) remained unbeaten off 5 deliveries. For the Markhors (3-27), Naseem Shah remained a standout bowler, bagging three wickets. Akif Javed (3-43) had also picked up three wickets. Shahnawaz Dahani (2-29) had also grabbed two wickets. Zahid Mahmood (1-50) took a scalp each. Iftikhar Ahmed (0-22) remained wicketless. Earlier, after being put into bat, Markhors were off to cautious start and lost their first wicket on 38, when the experienced opener, Fakhar Zaman (17 off 29) was undone by Mubasir Khan. But it was Kamran Ghulam, who stitched up a crucial 133-run partnership with Captain Mohammad Rizwan.

26-year-old, Abdul Samad was lethal with the bat and went to compile a fiery 25-ball 62, lacing with four boundaries and six towering sixes in the death overs to accelerate further the Markhors’ innings. Iftikhar Ahmed proved his mettle and utilised his experience in the death overs to compile an unbeaten 44-ball 57, smashing seven boundaries and one six.