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MATCHSUMMARY
Lahore Qalandars, batting first - 197 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their 20 overs; Harry Brook 102* (49) Islamabad United, batting second - 131 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their 20 overs; Liam Dawson 31 (26)
Player of the Match: Harry Brook 102* (49) (10x4, 5x6) and a catch.
Lahore Qalandars beat Islamabad United by 66 runs and qualify for the play-offs, along with Multan Sultans and Peshawar Zalmi.
It was a solid performance by Shaheen Afridi's side with both bat and ball, as the Islamabad United, led by Asif Ali again today, were almost no match for the side in the second position at this stage.
The beginning of the match was exactly what the doctor ordered for Islamabad, as they were able to get three quick wickets, giving away only 12 runs at that stage. Faheem Ashraf was in the thick of things with two wickets off his first over, followed by the run out of Mohammad Hafeez.
But then, it was the Fakhar Zaman and Harry Brook show with the bat, that posted a scintillating 100-run partnership and took the game very much out of Islamabad's reach with it. Harry Brook scored a magnificent unbeaten 100 and was particularly severe against pace bowling. His batting against spin was pretty special too as his approach to play spin bowling was very positive. He got good support from David Wiese towards the end as the veteran all-rounder hit some lusty blows to help Brook and Lahore get to a score of over 190.
Faheem Ashraf bowled with a lot of confidence and Liam Dawson bowled with a lot of courage, both being the pick of the Islamabad bowlers, but the rest of the bowling and fielding effort was forgettable. Captaincy too was iffy from Asif Ali, as Liam Dawson did not finish his spell even.
In the 2nd innings, the beginning for Islamabad was good, as Rahmanullah Gurbaz got going straightaway, to put pressure on the bowling of Lahore and add quick runs to the Islamabad chase. But calamity struck the batting side as both openers were removed off back-to-back deliveries by Shaheen Afridi, after which the batting never really recovered, even though there were some good shots played here and there.
Liam Dawson tried to steady the ship, but from the other end, the wickets kept falling at regular intervals, which resulted in him trying to go for a big shot and getting out caught in the deep. He failed to take advantage of a full toss on that occasion. Azam Khan, Asif Afridi and the rest of the batters, including pinch-hitter Mohammad Wasim Jr, were all very disappointing with the bat tonight.
The star-studded bowling attack of Lahore did what is was expected to do, and that was to both stifle the opposition and take wickets at regular intervals. Shaheen Afridi, Zaman Khan, Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam and last but not the least, David Wiese, were all highly impressive with their bowling. Rashid Khan in his final match of the season, returned with 2 wickets, giving away only 19 runs in his 4 overs. The fielding though, could have been better from the Qalandars.
With that we come to the end of our coverage for tonight from the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. It was a pleasure bringing you all the live action, and we now have only one spot remaining to be taken for the play-offs with Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators, the two teams in the race for it! The team that is out of the qualification scenario is Karachi Kings. Do join us for Sunday's double-header as we try and find out who our last team to qualify will be! For now, this is the pair of Soorya and Bidipto, saying good bye! Keep following Sportskeeda!
POST-MATCHPRESENTATION
Player of the Match, Harry Brook: It was good fun to be out there and try and post a big score for the team. I have said in plenty of interviews before that I want to bat in pressure situations and take the team to a position of strength. The crowd in the last few matches was absolutely brilliant and it is great to get such support at the ground. This is definitely one of my best knocks.
Islamabad United captain, Asif Ali: It was a very good start for us but then came that important partnership that took the game away from us, even though we bowled some bad balls. The injuries have not helped us at all. Hasan's injury late in the piece hurt us as well today.
Lahore Qalandars captain, Shaheen Afridi: It was a good comeback after losing three early wickets and it was a good partnership between Harry and Fakhar. A good effort overall I must say. Harry's hundred was top class, no doubt about that. Zaman Khan was also outstanding, he is always looking forward to bowling the tight overs and we hope to see him play for Pakistan soon. I wish Rashid Khan all the very best going forward, but we will surely miss him.
Rashid Khan: It's a family and I'm so lucky to be here in Lahore. The way they took care of me this season - it felt as though I was retiring (on the guard of honor he received post the game). I wish them all the best for the rest of the competition. So happy to play the kind of role I play every year - to leave the team in the top two makes me so happy as a bowler. Everyone's taking responsibility in the team and we keep supporting each other. So blessed to be in this family. (Talk after yesterday's loss) It was just about playing our natural game. It was about being the right frame of mind so that we can perform well the next day. It was all about enjoying our skills, playing positive and entertaining this wonderful crowd.
20
overs
131/9score
0
1
1
1
W
0
3
runs
Danish Aziz
30(26)
Zahir Khan*
0(1)
David Wiese
1/3
19.6
0
David Wiese to Zahir Khan, SWINGAND A MISS! Slower delivery on a length outside off, Zahir has an aimless heave across the line, only for the ball to keep low and dribble to the keeper. Zahir fancies a bye as well but grounds his bat despite an underarm throw from Salt missing the stumps. As comprehensive a victory as it can get for Lahore Qalandars - they beat Islamabad United by 66 runs!
Zahir Khan, LHB, is at the crease.
19.5
W
David Wiese to Waqas Maqsood, OUT! TAMEDISMISSAL! Goes for the yorker at the stumps as he switches back to around the wicket, Waqas walks across and scoops it off the toe-end, only to spoon a sitter into the hands of Shaheen at short fine leg. There goes the ninth wicket for United with a delivery to go!
Waqas Maqsood c Zaman Khan b David Wiese 1 (5)
19.4
1
David Wiese to Danish Aziz, back over the wicket as he slants a low full toss across the batter on off, Danish has a swing at it, only for the ball to fly over cover off the outer half of the blade. Just a single into the deep.
19.3
1
David Wiese to Waqas Maqsood, back of a length slower delivery outside off, Waqas fetches a heave across the line and mows it flat to wide long on for a single.
19.2
1
David Wiese to Danish Aziz, slower delivery on a length on off, Danish makes room as he takes a step forward and drags it along the carpet for a single through mid-wicket.
19.1
0
David Wiese to Danish Aziz, slower one on a full-ish length on off, Danish clears his front leg and has an almighty swipe across the line, only for the ball to take the inside edge and roll to short fine leg.
David Wiese, right-arm fast-medium, is into the attack.
19
overs
128/8score
0
0
4
0
1
0
5
runs
Danish Aziz
28(23)
Waqas Maqsood*
0(3)
Shaheen Afridi
2/28
18.6
0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Waqas Maqsood, tails a very full one into middle and leg, Waqas brings his bat down to keep it out towards mid-wicket with an angled blade.
18.5
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Danish Aziz, nails a toe-crushing yorker this time, just on the leg-stump and dinked out in front of square on the leg-side with Danish hanging back. Single taken!
18.4
0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Danish Aziz, another excellent inswinging yorker at the stumps, Danish manages to hang back and squeeze it out with a straight bat to the bowler's right.
18.3
4
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Danish Aziz, FOUR! Dug short and angled in straight on the leg-stump, Danish stands tall and helps it over short fine leg to clear him comfortably and pick out the ropes.
18.2
0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Danish Aziz, slower one on a full length around off, Danish holds his ground for a straight-batted push back down the pitch.
18.1
0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Danish Aziz, inswinging yorker just around off, kept out by Danish as he jams it behind point. This is superlative bowling!
Video
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Danish Aziz
David Wiese
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
