36-year-old leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood who hasn't played international cricket in nearly two years knocked on Pakistan selectors doors with a five-wicket haul for Markhors against Stallions in Pakistan's Champions Cup. Mohammad Rizwan-led Markhors were bowled out for 231 after choosing to bat on September 15. Stallions were expected to chase down the target easily but they lost eight wickets for just 26 runs and got bundled out for 105 in 23.4 overs. Markhors won the match by a comfortable margin of 126 runs.
Markhors lose early wickets
After choosing to bat, Markhors lost three wickets in the first powerplay. Mohammad Ali dismissed Mohammad Faizan in the third over. Fakhar Zaman hit a couple of fours but fell to Jahandad Khan. Abrar Ahmed got into the act early and dismissed previous game's centurion Kamran Ghulam Rizwan and Agha Salman tried to steady the ship. Mehran Mumtaz broke the partnership with Rizwan's wicket. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 33 runs from 39 balls. Agha and Iftikhar Ahmed tried to do the same. Agha's strike rate took a hit in the middle overs. Jahandad got the better of him in the 33rd over. He scored 51 runs from 72 balls including three fours and a six.
Iftikhar’s crucial fifty
Iftikhar and Abdul Samad tried to push the scoring rate. They succeeded too but Mumtaz got Samad's wicket. He scored 37 runs from 35 balls. In the next over, Zahid got run out. Naseem Shah couldn't contribute either and got out for a four-ball duck to Jahandad. Running out of partners, Iftikhar departed as well. Before becoming Mumtaz's third victim, he scored 60 runs from 6 balls including eight fours. Jahandad ended the innings with Shahnawaz Dahani in the 45th over. Markhors were bowled out for 231.
Zahid, Salman spin a web around Stallions
Defending a non-threatening total, Naseem Shah did the job with the new ball. He dismissed both openers Yasir Khan and Shan Masood. Tahir failed to make a mark and lost his wicket to Agha. Babar Azam was scoring well, finding boundaries but in an attempt to play a pull shot he fell to Zahid's first delivery of the match. Skipper Mohammad Haris played an unnecessary slog sweep and got bowled. Salman dismissed Hussain Talat and Jahandad to rule out any possibility of comeback. Zahid mopped up the tail with Mumtaz, Haris Rauf and Abrar's wickets. From 79/2 in the 15th over, Stallions were bowled out for 105 in the 24th and lost the match by 126 runs. Zahid took a fifer in just 4.4 overs.
Zahid's absence
The experienced leggie has played two Tests, four ODIs and one T20I. He has 12 wickets from two Tests. His last Test appearance was against England in 2022 where he took six wickets. He remained wicketless on his last ODI outing against Netherlands whereas on his T20I debut against South Africa in 2021 he bagged three wickets but never played another T20I again.
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