Lahore Lions v Faisalabad Wolves – Faysal Bank T-20 Cup, 2012/13 (Final) – Match Recap – Skipper Hafeez leads Lions to title
The Lahore Lions' captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 led from the front and bowled an intense spell, which enabled his team to claim the tournament title with a 33-run win over the Faisalabad Wolves in the final of the Faysal Bank T-20 Cup, played in front of a 20,000-strong crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, on December 9.
Both teams went into the final unbeaten in the tournament so far, and the match kicked off with the Lions winning the toss and choosing to bat first. The innings did not feature any particularly remarkable performances, and the batsmen were continually hampered by Ehsan Adil (4-0-23-3) and Asad Ali (4-0-34-2) – however, a few contributions from the top enabled the Lions to work their way up to a final total of 154.
Opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nasir-Jamshed-c78752 top-scored for the team with 42 off 28, and joined Ahmed Shehzad (29) in setting up a 44-run opening partnership. Asad Ali intervened to send Shehzad back to the pavilion, but Jamshed soldiered on, and teamed up with skipper Hafeez (22) to set up a 51-run partnership for the second wicket.
Both batsmen were eventually dismissed in successive overs – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-Khalid-c1585 in the 11th over, and Hafeez off Ehsan Adil in the 12th. By this point in the match, the Lions found themselves at 100 for 3.
Umar Akmal (20) and Kamran Akmal (18) provided their team some respite with a 38-run fourth-wicket stand, which came to an end in the 18th over, with Ehsan Adil sending both batsmen packing. From there onwards, none of the batsmen managed to reach double figures, and some minor efforts from Abdul Razzaq (8), http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Adnan-Rasool-c42062 (1*), got the Lions up to 154 by the end of 20 overs.
Skipper Hafeez (4-0-11-4) then proceeded to lead the team’s bowling attack, with a spell which was characterised by its economy, and ensured a steady fall of wickets. He was aided in his endeavours by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zia-ul-Haq-c98603 (1-0-8-1), and together they ensured that the Wolves did not come anywhere near the total.
Only four of Faisalabad’s batsmen were able to surpass single digits, and even then, their contributions did not amount to much. Skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Khan-c71319 (13), and Ehsan Adil (13*) all chipped in with small contributions. However, the rest of the batting order failed to support them, and the Wolves were eventually cut off at 121, with the Lions claiming a 33-run victory.
In addition to the Player of the Match award which was granted to Hafeez, other honours which were meted out included the title of Best Wicket-keeper of the series (which went to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ahmed-Shehzad-c42359).
However, the night belonged to the Lahore Lions, who ended by lifting the Faysal Bank T-20 cup. In addition to having enabled them to clinch the tournament title, the victory could also prove the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808’ ticket to the Champions League T20 next year.
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