Lahore Lions beat Dolphins to stay alive in Champions League T20
Umar Akmal's exceptional hitting took Lahore to respectable total, successfully defended by bowlers
BANGALORE: (Dunya News, Web Desk) – In a thrilling contest between Lahore Lions (Pakistan) and Dolphins (South Africa), Lahore Lions defeated Dolphins today by 16 runs. Match was played at Chinnasawami Stadium of Bangalore where Lahore Lions won the toss to bat first. Though the decision seemed to be proving wrong initially but later Umar Akmal and Saad Nasim changed the complexion of the game completely.
Saad Nasim came into bat when Pakistan had already lost 3 wickets for just 123 runs. Just 11 runs later Mohammad Hafeez lost his wicket, leaving Pakistan almost hapless at 34 for the loss of 4 wickets. However, Umar Akmal joined Saad Nasim to form a brilliant 92 runs partnership. Umar Akmal played a spectacular knock of 73 (not out) off just 45 balls. It was the second highest score by any batsman batting at number 6 in IPL or Champions League T20 tournament. Highest was 75 by Rahul Dravid in IPL 2008. Umar Akmal’s innings was starred with 5 sixes and 5 boundaries. Saad Nasim scored 43 off just 26 balls with the help of 3 sixes and 3 boundaries.
After losing Saad Nasim, Umar Akmal formed yet another good partnership of 38 runs along with Asif Raza (19*). Pakistan was able to pull off 164 runs out of a match that seemed to have got over only in the first 8 overs. Frylinck was best of the bowlers with his 3 wickets while Abbott and Delport secured 1 wicket each.
Dolphins came in to bat under pressure and it showed off too the first wicket went down for 5 runs when Delport was bowled out by Lahore Lions skipper Mohammad Hafeez. Dolphins lost Chetty on 25 runs and they hardly seemed to be coming back into the game afterwards. With Delport (0), Chetty (2), Maharaj (0), Zondo (8), Van Jaarsveld (3), Phehlukwayo (1) and Abbott (2), Dolphins’s scorecard portrayed a sorry picture. Vandiar’s 29 and Van Wwyk’s 36 were the only two batsmen to have reached the double figures before Frylinck struck a superb 63 off just 27 balls with the help of 4 boundaries and 6 sixes. However, his effort came too late in the day and though he remained undefeated, Dolphins wasted too many balls to chase the target of 165 runs.
Mohammad Hafeez bowled brilliantly for his 2 wickets, giving away only 18 runs off his 4 overs. Mustafa Iqbal and Saad Nasim also got 2 wickets each. Adnan Rasool and Wahab Riaz got 1 wicket each. Lahore Lions won by 16 runs as Dolphins could only score 148 runs off their allotted 20 overs. Umar Akmal was Man of the Match for his brilliant 73 not out. Saad Nasim and Frylinck, however, also deserved no less than Man of the Match award.
