Lahore Lions and Karachi Dolphins roar into Faysal Bank T20 final
Hosts Lahore Lions and Karachi Dolphins barged into the final of the National T20 cricket tournament being contested by the leading domestic teams of Pakistan.
The tournament being played at the Qaddafi stadium has been a roaring success as cricket deprived fans of the city throng in to see some breath taking cricket that has caught the imagination of the cricket starved fans in the country.
The two semi-finals were played today and a galaxy of Pakistani stars on display in both matches fought tooth and nail to outgun each other.
In the first semi-final, Islamabad Leopards led by Pakistan fast bowler, Shoaib Akhtar, won the toss and opted to bat first in perfect batting conditions.
The Leopards got off to a poor start as their opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Razzaq-c84421
leapt with joy.
The Leopards than steadied the ship through a decent partnership for the second wicket, which was broken with the score on 47. Umair Khan was the batsman dismissed he was also held by Ahmed Shehzad with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Raza-Ali-Dar-c84403 the successful bowler this time.
Lions kept plugging away and chipped in with crucial wickets. The most important one was of the seasoned Azhar Mahmood, who flicked a ball from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Waqas-Ahmed-c96195, who was positioned inside the circle in the fine leg region.
Fayyaz Ahmed top scored with a half century for the Leopards. However, they failed to get the desired momentum in their innings posting a meagre score of 132 in the allotted 20 overs.
The Lions got off to a blazing start with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nasir-c78728 perished to Azhar Mahmood.
The Lions were dealt a crucial blow on the very next ball when Azhar Mahmood sent Umar Akmal’s stumps cart wheeling with a vicious in-swinger.
At this stage veteran, Mohammad Yousuf steadied the ship with Ahmed Shehzad.
The youngster played some blazing strokes as Yousuf showed his class and composure from the other end.
Yousuf was struck on his helmet by Shoaib Akhtar, yet the blow made him more determined.
The two took their team to the brink of victory when Ahmed Shehzad fell to Azhar Mahmood, soon afterwards Razzaq also perished to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Azhar-Mahmood-c1116.
However, the total was hardly going to trouble the Lions. The match was ended in grand style by Mohammad Yousuf when he blazed a six off former Pakistan pace man Rao Iftikhar.
In the second semi-final Rawalpindi Rams batted first after losing an early wicket to a dicey umpiring decision, the Rams rammed into the Karachi bowlers with some disdainful hitting.
The Rams succeeded in posting a huge total of 209 runs in the allotted 20 overs setting up a big chase for the fancied Karachi Dolphins team.
The Dolphins, who had amassed the highest total in Pakistan’s T20 history in the previous match, were indebted to another outstanding unbeaten knock by Pakistan opener Shahzeb http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990.
Shahzeb steered his team home with an unbeaten innings of 71, there were some vital contributions from Fawad Alam and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 along the way.
Afridi set alight the Qaddafi stadium with a whirlwind knock of 38 runs off only 12 balls, while Fawad Alam chipped in with a useful 31 run knock off only 15 balls his innings was studded with 5 fours.
The Dolphins victory has set up a mouth watering clash for the title between two traditional powerhouses of Pakistani cricket Lahore and Karachi.
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