CRICKET – PANTHERS Bahrain emerged victorious over Lankan Warriors Blue in an exciting encounter yesterday in the 2025 Khalid Bin Hamad Corporate Cricket League.
Chasing a decent total of 152, the Warriors Blue middle-order collapse saw them fall short by 40 runs, handing the Panthers a well-deserved, comprehensive win.
Put into batting first, the Panthers posted a competitive 151 runs, but it was a tale of missed opportunities that derailed their innings. Openers Anzar Faseeh (16) and Hamza Bin Asif Siddiqui (11) got off to a decent start but fell to Prabath Sulalitha, and another deadly bowler in Prasad Shaminda Malliyawadu kept picking wickets.
Muzamil Babar (27) and Muhammad Habib Ur Rehman (23) briefly stabilised the innings, but both were dismissed in quick succession. The middle-order collapse continued with Irfan Azhar (19) and Naseer Afridi (five) also falling cheaply.
However, Muhammad Hisham played a valiant knock, remaining unbeaten on 16 from just nine balls, with a blistering strike rate of 177.78. Despite his efforts, the Panthers managed only 151 runs in their 20 overs. The highlight of their batting was a steady partnership between Babar and Hisham, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Warriors from tightening the noose.
In reply, the Warriors Blue were bowled out for just 111 runs in 18.3 overs – a performance largely due to a brilliant bowling display from Panthers’ Afridi and Hisham.
Warriors Blue’s chase began disastrously, losing wickets in quick succession. Opening batsman Gayan Nilantha (13) and Anusha Dilshanwasala Bandara (zero) fell cheaply, with both being dismissed by the impressive Afridi. Malliyawadu (one), Manoj Priyantha (zero), and Manoj Hemantha Rodrigo (11) followed, leaving the Warriors Blue at a precarious 28/5 in the seventh over.
Despite a brief resistance from Dushantha Pushpa Kumara, who top-scored with 30 off 22 balls, the Warriors Blue’s innings crumbled under pressure. Anton Charles (19) tried to salvage the innings but was left stranded as the Panthers’ bowlers cleaned up the tail. Afridi’s brilliant spell of 4/20 and Hisham’s 3/23, both with the ball, were key to their success.
Hisham had a late cameo of 16 and a match-winning bowling performance of 3/23. Afridi’s 4/20 were instrumental in dismantling the Warriors Blue chase, earning him the Player of the Match award. Afridi and Hisham took seven wickets between them. Their dominance, supported by solid fielding, restricted the Warriors to just 111, despite the brief resistance from Pushpa Kumara and Anton Charles.
For the Warriors Blue, Sulalitha (2/25) and Malliyawadu (3/17) were the pick of the bowlers, helping to bowl out the Panthers at a relatively competitive total.
The Panthers’ all-round performance led them to a comfortable 40-run victory. With both bat and ball, they outperformed their opponents, leaving the Warriors Blue with much to ponder ahead of their next match.
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