In a gripping showdown at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Lahore Qalandars, led by the exceptional Rassie van der Dussen, emerged victorious against Islamabad United in the HBL PSL. The intense battle showcased moments of brilliance from both teams, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. As the cricketing saga unfolds, Lahore Qalandars find redemption, offering hope for an exciting journey ahead in the tournament.
Lahore Qalandars: Turning the Tide
In a crucial match held at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Lahore Qalandars managed to secure an 18-run victory against Islamabad United in the HBL Pakistan Super League. This win provided some solace for the two-time defending champions, whose playoff hopes had already faded after Karachi Kings’ earlier triumph at the same venue.
The Qalandars’ fielding efforts, particularly those by Jahandad Khan, were remarkable. Additionally, disciplined bowling led by Zaman Khan (who took 4 wickets for 37 runs) ensured that Islamabad United could only manage 145 runs before being bowled out, with seven balls remaining.
The Lahore Qalandars began their innings in a manner that mirrored their overall season—a struggle. Their first point came from a washout in their previous match. Unfortunately, both openers, Sahibazada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman, found themselves back in the dugout before the powerplay concluded.
Farhan faced an early dismissal, initially adjudged caught behind while still trying to open his account. However, a review revealed a significant gap between bat and ball. Despite this, he departed soon after, caught by Hunain Shah at third man.
Fakhar managed to score 10 runs but fell victim to an exceptional catch by Colin Munro near the square leg boundary. The ball, seemingly destined for a six, was brilliantly intercepted by Munro.
The Qalandars were further reduced to 30-3 when Shai Hope attempted to hit Imad Wasim down the ground but only managed to find Jordan Cox lunging forward.
In a surprising move, skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi promoted himself up the order and unleashed a six-hitting spree. In a blistering 14-ball innings, he dispatched Agha Salman, Imad, Faheem Ashraf, and Shadab Khan over the ropes. However, he was eventually outfoxed by his United counterpart, resulting in the ball hitting his off-stump.
Sikandar Raza didn’t last long either, top-edging a delivery from Faheem, with keeper Azam Khan sprinting almost to the deep third boundary to complete the catch.
Ahsan met his demise shortly after, locating Munro at the midwicket boundary. However, Van der Dussen persisted, pulling Naseem Shah for a six to reach his well-deserved half-century.
In the 18th over, the incoming David Wiese (23 not out) concluded with consecutive boundaries. Unfortunately, Van der Dussen fell with just seven balls remaining, trapped lbw by Rumman Raees.
Undeterred, Wiese took charge in the final over, scoring 11 runs, including a boundary, and contributed to his team’s challenging total.
In a rollercoaster of a season, Lahore Qalandars found a glimmer of hope in their encounter against Islamabad United at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Let’s delve into the match highlights and the pivotal moments that led to their long-awaited victory.
Rassie van der Dussen’s Masterclass
Rassie van der Dussen emerged as the beacon of hope for Lahore Qalandars. With a sublime innings of 64 runs off just 44 balls, the South African batsman anchored the Qalandars’ innings, providing solidity amidst early setbacks. His resilience and skill proved instrumental in setting up a competitive total for his team.
Initially, the Qalandars faced challenges, losing both their openers during a slow start after being put into bat. However, Rassie van der Dussen, the South African batsman, played a pivotal role by anchoring the innings with a 64 off 44 balls. His contribution helped the Qalandars set a total of 162-7.
As the 15th over concluded, the Qalandars stood at 98-5, their hopes of a substantial finish resting on the shoulders of Van der Dussen.
The South African batsman did not disappoint. In the 16th over, after Ahsan Hafeez (13) smashed the first ball for six over fine leg, Van der Dussen followed suit by ramping Faheem for his third boundary and ending the over with his third six—a square cut over deep point.
This hard-fought victory was a much-needed boost for the Lahore Qalandars, who had faced struggles earlier in the season.
Struggles and Redemption
Lahore Qalandars’ journey in the HBL Pakistan Super League has been fraught with challenges, but in this crucial match, they showcased resilience and determination. Despite losing early wickets, the team rallied around van der Dussen’s heroics, posting a commendable total of 162-7.
Fielding Brilliance
Jahandad Khan’s stunning efforts in the field added to Lahore Qalandars’ momentum. His agile fielding and crucial catches turned the tide in favor of his team, putting Islamabad United under pressure.
Bowling Dominance
The Qalandars’ bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, led by Zaman Khan’s impressive spell of 4-37. They maintained tight lines and exploited the conditions well, restricting Islamabad United’s batting lineup.
Islamabad United’s Struggles
In the chase, Munro kickstarted the innings by driving Shaheen for consecutive boundaries through the cover. However, United suffered an early setback when opener Alex Hales fell victim to a remarkable piece of fielding by Jahandad. Jahandad, sprinting towards the long-on boundary, stretched out his left hand to catch the Englishman.
Zaman then struck twice: first, he dismissed Salman, caught down the leg side, and then accounted for Shadab, who misjudged a yorker and was bowled out. Soon after, Munro was run out due to a fiery throw from Jahandad in the deep.
Imad, on his first ball, thumped Wiese down the ground but was caught next ball, edging to Abdullah Shafique at slip. Jahandad continued his impressive performance, taking a catch off his own bowling to dismiss Jordan Cox, leaving United struggling at 38-6.
Azam, after a cautious start, unleashed his power. He smashed two sixes and three fours in a blazing 29 runs. Unfortunately, he fell on the 19th ball he faced, caught by Ahsan at long-off.
Naseem provided a glimmer of hope for United by launching Shaheen for consecutive sixes. However, he was eventually cleaned up by his fellow Pakistan pacer. In his 16-ball innings, Naseem also hit two fours, contributing 27 runs.
Zaman shattered Hunain’s stumps with a full toss and then dropped a sharp chance offered by Faheem Ashraf in the next over.
Faheem capitalized on the opportunity in the penultimate over, smashing Zaman for a six over midwicket and following it up with a four. He later found the extra cover boundary, raising United’s hopes once again. However, Zaman had the final say, trapping Rumman Raees lbw to end the innings.
On the other hand, Islamabad United faced an uphill battle throughout the match. Despite glimpses of resistance from their batsmen, they faltered under Lahore Qalandars’ pressure, ultimately falling short of the target.
In a season marked by disappointments, Lahore Qalandars’ victory against Islamabad United provided a much-needed morale boost. Rassie van der Dussen’s stellar performance, combined with exemplary fielding and disciplined bowling, showcased the team’s potential. As they aim to build on this win, Lahore Qalandars will look to carry forward the momentum and turn their season around.
Scoreboard
LAHORE QALANDARS:
EXTRAS (W-7): 7
TOTAL (for seven wickets, 20 overs): 162
DID NOT BAT: Tayyab Abbas, Zaman Khan
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-11 (Farhan), 2-16 (Fakhar), 3-30 (Hope), 4-76 (Shaheen), 5-92 (Raza), 6-117 (Ahsan), 7-148 (van der Dussen)
BOWLING:
Naseem: 4-1-30-1 (1w)
Rumman: 3-0-19-2 (2w)
Hunain: 3-0-24-1 (1w)
Imad: 3-0-24-1 (1w)
Salman: 1-0-14-0
Faheem: 3-0-28-1 (1w)
Shadab: 3-0-23-1 (1w)
ISLAMABAD UNITED:
EXTRAS (NB-1, W-5): 6
TOTAL (all out, 18.5 overs): 145
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-9 (Hales), 2-14 (Salman), 3-25 (Shadab), 4-32 (Munro), 5-36 (Imad), 6-38 (Cox), 7-73 (Azam), 8-115 (Naseem), 9-122 (Hunain)
BOWLING:
Shaheen: 4-0-32-2
Zaman: 3.4-0-37-3 (3w)
Wiese: 4-0-19-1
Jahandad: 2-0-15-1 (1nb)
Tayyab: 2-0-15-0 (1w)
Ahsan: 2-0-20-1
Raza: 1-0-7-0 (1w)
RESULT: Lahore Qalandars won by 17 runs.
PLAYER-OF-THE-MATCH: Rassie van der Dussen
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Q: How did Lahore Qalandars perform in the match against Islamabad United?
A: Lahore Qalandars secured an 18-run victory, with Rassie van der Dussen’s outstanding performance and brilliant fielding contributions.
Q: Who were the standout players for Lahore Qalandars in the game?
A: Rassie van der Dussen played a crucial role with a 44-ball 64, and Jahandad Khan’s exceptional fielding efforts stood out.
Q: What led to Islamabad United’s downfall in the match?
A: Lahore Qalandars’ disciplined bowling, with Zaman Khan taking 4-37, and Jahandad Khan’s crucial catches, contributed to Islamabad United’s defeat.
Q: How did the match impact Lahore Qalandars’ position in the HBL PSL standings?
A: While Lahore Qalandars’ playoff hopes were extinguished, this victory provides them with consolation and a positive turn in their season.
Q: Any notable individual performances apart from Rassie van der Dussen?
A: Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s aggressive 14-ball 30 and David Wiese’s unbeaten 23 played key roles in Lahore Qalandars’ challenging total.
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