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News

Qalandars win thriller over Zalmi to go third on PSL table

By Raheel Hanif

March 10, 2020 10:12 PM


David Wiese and Samit Patel held their nerves to take Lahore Qalandars over the victory line in a thrilling contest against Peshwar Zalmi at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Tuesday.

The second-last over bowled by Rahat Ali proved crucial as Qalandars needing 24 runs off last two overs gathered 16 in that over.

Qalandars, who were cruising at one stage when Chris Lynn and Fakhar Zaman were batting, suffered a spectacular middle order collapse under run rate pressure to give Zalmi hope.

It was a see-saw battle between two rivals as the match continued to tilt from one side to other owing to a spectacular bowling spell of Carlos Brathwaite that too under tremendous pressure. The last over kept the fans on toes as needing 8 runs to win Qalandars could add only three runs. But on fourth ball Weise finished the match with a magnificent six over long on to give his team the victory.

Qalandars win means Zalmi have to win their last encounter against Multan Sultans to qualify for playoffs as Qalandars surged to third place on points table.

Fakhar and Lynn added 96 runs for second wicket. After Lynn’s departure Qalandars lost three quick wickets for just 12 runs. Brathwaite removed Lynn, when then latter went for a big shot and skied it and Yasir Shah running in from long off, dived forward and took a spectacular catch. Lynn scored 59 off 32 balls hitting six boundaries and three sixes.

Two balls later Fakhar, who made the maiden fifty of this season, joined him in the dressing room when Yasir again took a good catch when Fakhar tried to cut a Wahb Riaz delivery towards the cover. Fakhar top scored with 63 off 46 balls and hit three sixes and four boundaries in his innings.

In next over, Mohammad Hafeez mishit a slow Brathwaite delivery high in the air to the off side, which was taken at backward point by Gregory. He could score 4 runs off as many balls. And when fan-favorite Bend Dunk also went when he hit the ball in the air to deep extra cover and Tom Banton took a fumbling catch to the delight of Bratwaite and Zalmi fans.

However, Weise and Patel ensured Qalandars reached home with two balls early as Lahore registered their fourth consecutive victory by five wickets.

Captain Sohail Akhtar made 21 off 19 balls before a mix up with Fakhar ended his innings.

Brathwaite was the best bowler for Zalmi as he finished with figures of 3-28 in 2.5 overs. Captain Wahab took one wicket for 27 runs while all other bowlers remained wicketless. Lewis Gregory conceded 23 in two overs, Yasir 26 in 3 overs while Rahat and Hasan Ali conceded 44 and 37 runs in their four overs, respectively.

Earlier, veteran Shoaib Malik and youngster Haider Ali Tuesday once again joined hands to the rescue of Peshawar Zalmi to help their team post a healthy total of 187/7 in 20 overs. Malik and Haider scored 116 runs for the fourth wicket to put their team in good situation after they were reduced to 24-3 in the fourth over.

Haider is the only positivity and find of this Pakistan Super League edition as he continued to show his prowess as a batsman with complete authority and played his strokes without being intimidated by the match situation or the oppositions bowling.

Malik also continued to roll back the years with his consistent performances after experiencing a subdued start to the tournament and scored another half century when it was needed most.

Qalandars, who had been boosted by the return of speedster Haris Rauf and flamboyant opener Chris Lynn, won the toss and elected to field first.

The decision paid off soon as Shaheen Shah Afridi struck on the second ball of the match to send opener Tom Banton for a duck when Banton hit in the air to the extra cover and was taken by Hafeez.

Samit Patel also carried on his form with the ball as removed Liam Livingstone in next over. Livingstone miscued a hit high in the air over the bowler and Fakhar moved from mid-on took a tumbling catch. He scored just 4 runs off 5 balls.

In fifth over, Patel removed dangerman Kamran Akmal who unwisely chased a wide delivery outside the off stump and was taken by Haris Rauf at point on the second attempt. Kamran score 12 runs hitting one four and a six and consuming eight deliveries.

Zalmi were looking almost down and dusted but Malik and Haider unite again to first stabilise the things and then brought the pace in the innings. Malik was scoring freely and Haider wwas looking subdued as he scored ball by ball 15 runs before hitting the gas pedal. The youngster went on rampage and reached the half century one ball before Malik consuming just 31 balls hitting three sixes and three fours when he nudged a Haris delivery to take a single before hitting him a six and a four in the 14th over.

Malik also reached his 50 when he drove Haris to extra cover fence on very next ball for his sixth boundary of the innings that also included a six. The things were looking to go out of the hand for Qalandars but David Wiese gave them a much needed break through when Malik miscued a delivery high in the air down to long on and Fakhar took the catch. Malik scored 62 runs off 43 balls and hit seven boundaries and two sixes.

Afridi cut short Gregory’s innings as a beautiful Yorker in the block hole went all through to shatter his stumps. Gregory hit one six in his four-ball eight runs.

Haider continued to punish Qalandars bowlers before he tried to play Dilbar Hussain over the head after moving across to the off side but the ball went high in the air on the onside and wicketkeeper Ben Dunk took the catch. Haider hit four sixes and as many fours in his 43-ball 69.

In next over, Wahab Riaz became the third victim of Afridi but Hasan Ali and Carlos Brathwaite added another 18 runs on last nine balls to take Zalmi to 187-7.

Afridi was the most successful bowler for Qalandars as he took three wickets for 28 runs. Patel took 2-37 while Dilbar and Weise clinch one wicket each conceding 37 and 31 runs respectively. Haris return after long injury lay-off proved unimpressive as he bowled four wicketless overs for 39 runs while young spinner Maaz Khan was not invited again to bowl after conceding 14 runs in his first over.


Raheel Hanif


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