Summary Innings decorated with 4 boundaries and 2 sixes led Lahore Lions through with 8 balls to spare
RAIPUR: (Dunya News, Web Desk) – Lahore Lions have defeated Mumbai Indians in the qualifiers for Champions League T20 which was played in Raipur today (Saturday). Star Pakistani batsman Umar Akmal scored a brilliant 38 off just 18 balls to take Lahore Lions over the rope with 8 balls to spare. Off the last six balls that he faced, there were two boundaries, two sixes and a run.
Asif Raza batted sensibly and scored 14 runs off just 7 balls. His partnership with Umran Akmal, though overshadowed by Umar Akmal’s hard-hitting, played crucial role in seeing Lahore Lions through.
Earlier, openers Nasir Jamshed and Ahmad Shahzad gave Lahore Lions a solid start. With an average to chase, both batsmen played sensibly giving a solid foundation to the hard-hitters who were yet to come. Nasir scored 26 off 24 balls while Ahmad Shahzad scored 4 runs off his 33 balls.
Mohammad Hafeez took a start but wasn’t able to capitalize. He was caught by Michael Hussey off Pollard’s ball after scoring 18 runs off 21 balls. Saad Nasim scored 6 runs off the 10 balls he faced.
When Umar Akmal came on to bat Lahore Lions needed 55 runs off 37 balls. Batting at a reasonable strike rate at the beginning of his innings, Umar hastened through the final stages and finished the game with 8 balls to spare after launching Lasith Malinga for a six over the long off boundary in the eighteenth over. Next over was bowled by Bumrah but Umar only allowed him to bowl four balls. After getting beaten outside the off on the first ball, Umar Akmal struck a boundary off a full toss. Next ball was short of the length and was played in the same direction, however, that sailed past the boundary for a massive six. Scores were leveled and Umar Akmal pierced the extra cover field setting to score yet another boundary and win the game for Lahore Lions. He was declared Man of the Match.
Lahore Lions will play Northern Districts of New Zealand to qualify for the main CLT20 2014 competition.
Mumbai Indians gave a target of 136 runs to Lahore Lions in the 20 allotted overs
Mumbai Indians has set a target of 136 runs for Lahore Lions to chase in the 2nd Qualifier of Chapions League T20. AP Tare was the highest scorer of the innings with 37 runs off 36 balls. Harbhajan Singh came into show some fireworks. Though he scored 18 runs only off 10 balls before getting run out in the final over of the innings, his contribution was highly important for the Mumbai Indians to reach the total of 135 runs.
Hussey scored 28 runs off 26 balls while Parveen Kumar remained unbeaten scoring 20 runs off just 14 balls.
Aizaz Cheema and Wahab Riaz both got two wickets each while Imran Ali and Asif Raza took 1 wicket each.
After 11.2 overs, Mumbai Indians were 67 for 4
Lahore Lions won the toss and elected to field first today against Mumbai Indians in their first match in the Champions League T20 tournament. The decision turned out to be great for the team as Mumbai Indians were 67 for 4 in just 11.2 overs.
Mumbai Indians started shaky as they lost their first 3 wickets for just 23 runs. The team tried to stabilize itself but Michael Hussey was taken out by Wahab Riaz on a brilliant delivery leaving Hussey at the last moment who edged the ball to Umar Akmal leaving Mumbai 67 for the loss of 4 wickets. Hussey scored 28 runs off 26 balls.
Among Pakistani bowlers Aizaz Cheema was the pick of the lot. Aizaz gave away only 9 runs off his three overs and claimed 3 wickets as well. Asif Raza and Wahab Riaz picked one wicket each.
