Lahore Qalandars defeated Islamabad United and reach to the final
Lahore: In the second eliminator of PSL 7, Lahore Qalandars defeated Islamabad United after an interesting match and reached to the final.
The second eliminator of Pakistan Super League (PSL 7) played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where Lahore Qalandars batted first and scored 168 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.
In response, none of the players from Islamabad United except Alex Hales and Azam Khan could stay on the wicket for long and the entire team piled up 162 runs in the last over. David Wiese was later named Man of the Match for his superb hitting in the final over.
In pursuit of the target, Islamabad United started the innings with Paul Sterling and Alex Hales. However, Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi sent Paul Sterling back to the pavilion.
Islamabad United captain Shadab Khan fell victim to Zaman Khan after scoring 14 runs, while Liam Dawson, who was troubling the Lahore Qalandars in bowling, also appeared in a dangerous mood in batting. He had scored 12 runs off 6 balls but got run out.
Later, Azam Khan played a responsible innings with Alex Hales. Azam Khan played an innings of 40 runs off 28 balls which included 2 sixes and 3 fours but he was run out on an excellent throw by Haris Rauf.
After which Alex Hales also fell victim to Haris Rauf, he returned to the pavilion after playing an innings of 38 runs off 29 balls.
Vice-captain Asif Ali batted very carefully. In the 19th over, Asif Ali hitted an excellent six to Haris, but Haris Rauf dismissed him in the same over, adding to Islamabad’s woes.
In the last over, Islamabad United needed 8 runs to win but Muhammad Waseem did not run for the first two balls and lost his wicket for the second run on the third ball, while Waqas Maqsood on the ball of David Wiese caught out and thus the match was won by Lahore Qalandars.
For Lahore Qalandars, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Zaman Khan took 2 wickets each while David Wiese took one wicket.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi decided to bat first after winning the toss against Islamabad United, then Fakhar Zaman and Phil Salt started the innings. However, Fakhar Zaman failed this time and fell a victim of Liam Dawson after scoring just one run in the first over.
Liam Dawson also ended Phil Salt’s innings in his second over, Phil salt returned to the pavilion after scoring just two runs. After both the opening batsmen were dismissed for 7 runs, Kamran Ghulam and Abdullah Shafiq took responsibility and pushed the scoreboard forward.
A crucial 73-run partnership was formed between the two, during which Abdullah Shafiq also completed his half-century which included 3 sixes and 4 fours, he was dismissed after playing an innings of 50 off 28 balls while Kamran Ghulam Played an innings of 30 runs.
Muhammad Hafeez returned to the pavilion with 28 runs off 28 balls and Harry Brook scored 2 runs. Samit Patel played an innings of 21 runs which included a six and a four.
David Wiese played an aggressive innings of 28 off 8 balls, he scored only 25 runs in the last over which played a key role in the victory.
