Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 - Lahore http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 leave Islamabad Leopards wounded – Match Recap
Lahore Lions, in the Group ‘A’ match of the ongoing Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup, defeated the Islamabad Leopards in an astounding way as the Lions won the match by a margin of 43 runs, on June 27, 2011.
With this victory, the Lahore Lions who are being captained by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s prolific middle-order batsman, Mohammad Yousuf, have now crept closer to a semi-final spot as the team is currently at the top of their group.
The current domestic tournament holds great importance for Pakistan cricketers because a commendable performance in this tournament will give them a likely chance to represent the country in the international arena, however, there are still many http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adam-Richard-Griffith-c41953 names
missing from the extravaganza, as certain players with the consent of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have opted to play county cricket in England for this season.
Nonetheless, the tournament has managed to pull cricket starved crowds which is a testament to the success of the tournament.
Meanwhile, in the day’s fixture, after winning the toss, the Lions opted to bat first, aiming to put enough runs on the board that would give the Leopards a run for their money.
However, Lahore were struck by misfortune as they lost both their openers early on, without putting enough runs on the board as Ahmed Shehzad was caught by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rao-Iftikhar-Anjum-c84026 off a delivery bowled by Islamabad’s strike bowler Nasrullah Khan, after scoring five
runs.
Then it was his partner, Nasir Jamshed, who was bowled by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 in the 4th over when the team’s total tally was just 20 runs.
However, wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Chaudhri-Mohammad-Yousuf-c50536 brought stability in the middle as they stood defiant against the bowling arsenal of the Leopards. Both batsmen played without any fear and exhibited some tremendous strokes against a formidable bowling
attack.
After scoring 18 runs, the veteran Yousuf saw his stumps shattered in the 9th over when medium pacer, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zohaib-Ahmed-c98636, penetrated his defences. At the time of the skipper’s departure Lahore had made 67-runs.
Umar Akmal, the younger brother of Kamran Akmal, then walked in and both Akmal’s added fuel to the misery of the Leopards as the brothers toyed with the bowlers who bowled deliveries that came bolting into the batsmen.
The younger Akmal, after adding 20 runs in the total tally, departed when he was trapped plumb in front of the stumps on a delivery bowled by pacer Iftikhar Anjum, in the 13th over.
A delivery later http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Syed-Imad-Wasim-c92287 threw a delivery straight at the wicketkeeper’s end who removed the stumps leaving Nasim well outside the crease.
On the penultimate delivery of the 14th over, Kamran Akmal was adjudged leg-before wicket off a delivery bowled by Nasrullah Khan, after scoring a commendable innings of 44-runs. His innings included six well hit boundaries.
Then, later it was Imran Ali who contributed 27-runs which helped the team in posting a total of 148 runs on the board, he stayed not-out.
Needing 149 runs to win, the Leopards sought a good start right from the word go, however, their openers suffered the same fate as Lahore, when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Raheel-Majeed-c83308 and Umair Khan both lost their wickets after scoring eight runs.
One down batsman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Afaq-Raheem-c42168, also failed to bring any stability in the team as he went back to the pavilion after giving an edge to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, off a delivery by Emmad Ali.
The innings of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shan-Masood-c89637 was the only highlight of the Leopards batting, as he clobbered 32 runs which made him the highest scorer from his side. He also perished after snicking an edge to Akmal behind the stumps in the 19th over. The Leopards
could only post 105 runs at the end of the game.
Imran Ali from the Lahore Lions was named as the Man of the Match for his splendid batting and three wickets.
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