DHL claimed a hard-earned win over Lankan Warriors Blue to make a winning start to the 2025 Khalid Bin Hamad Corporate Cricket League.
In a high-stakes opening match, DHL chased down a target of 139 runs, securing victory by seven wickets with just three balls to spare.
The Warriors Blue were put into bat after DHL won the toss and elected to bowl first. Their innings never quite gained momentum, with wickets falling regularly throughout their 20 overs. Dilan Ishara was the standout performer for the Warriors Blue, top-scoring with 33 runs off 36 balls, including two fours and one six. Chaminda Benny provided a late surge, remaining unbeaten on 48 from 29 balls, while Chandrarathna Weerasekara contributed eight runs off five balls.
Despite these contributions, the Warriors Blue were restricted to a modest total of 138/5 from their allotted overs, with DHL’s bowlers delivering tight, disciplined spells.
Shayan Abdullah was the pick of the bowlers, claiming two wickets for 11 runs in his four overs, while Muhammad Rehan and Muhammad Shahbaz each chipped in with a wicket apiece.
In reply, DHL’s chase was powered by a stellar knock from captain Imran Anwar, who was named Player of the Match for his winning effort of 53 runs off 47 balls. His innings, which included five fours and two sixes, anchored DHL’s pursuit of the target.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, with Mirza Furqan Beg (14), Uzair Siddiqui (28), and Muhammad Shahbaz (six) all falling cheaply, Imran’s composure guided DHL towards the finish line.
The Warriors Blue’s bowlers tried their best to defend the target, with Prabath Sulalitha (1/18) and Weerasekara (1/31) making inroads. However, they could not quite stem the flow of runs when it mattered most, as DHL’s batsmen capitalised on the loose deliveries in the final stages of the chase.
With this win, DHL are off to a flying start in the 2025 season of the league, and will look to carry this momentum forward as they aim for a strong finish. The Warriors Blue, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next match, hoping to bounce back after a narrow defeat.
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