Lions registered their first win in the Champions T20 Cup with an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Panthers at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
After being asked to bat first, Panthers were bowled out for a modest total of 123 runs in 19.2 overs.
The innings got off to a shaky start after Sharjeel Khan was dismissed for just five runs, leaving the Panthers at 17/1 in 3.1 overs.
Despite a promising partnership between Umar Siddiq and Haider Ali which saw them add 45 runs for the second wicket, the Panthers' innings ultimately faltered.
Siddiq was dismissed for 26 off 28 balls by Khushdil Shah, leaving the Panthers at 62/2 in 8.4 overs.
Danish Aziz was the standout batter for the Panthers, scoring 34 runs off 27 balls. Haider Ali also contributed with 26 runs off 20 balls, but apart from them, no other batter managed to reach double figures.
With the ball, Shahid Aziz was the standout performer for Lions, taking impressive figures of 4/20 in 3.2 overs.
He was well supported by Khushdil Shah and Musa Khan who each took two wickets, while Awais Anwar added one more.
In reply, the Lions made a confident start to their chase, with openers Hasan Nawaz and skipper Imam-ul-Haq putting together a solid 79-run partnership for the first wicket.
However, their first setback came in the 10th over when Hasan Nawaz was dismissed for 44 off 31 balls, which included four boundaries and three sixes.
Imam continued to anchor the chase, forming a 43-run partnership with Shahzaib Khan for the second wicket, bringing the team closer to victory.
However Imam failed to hit the winning runs as he was dismissed after scoring 45 runs from 38 deliveries which included five boundaries.
Shahzaib remained unbeaten on 28 off 17 balls, while Awais Anwar (4) hit the winning runs, guiding Lions to chase down 124 after losing two wickets in just 14.3 overs.
Shahid Aziz was named Player of the Match for his exceptional bowling performance.