Super-Eight T20 Cup: Misbah-led Faisalabad through to final

Hafeez stars but fails to guide Lahore past the finish line.

Misbahul Haq marshaled his troops to perfection as Faisalabad Wolves won a nail-biting semi-final over the Mohammad Hafeez-led Lahore Lions to book their place in the Faysal Bank Super-Eight T20 Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Ehsan Adil was the standout performer for Faisalabad as the 20-year-old fast-bowler delivered a superb final over to bundle out Lahore for 123, two runs short of his team’s total of 125 for eight.

Needing nine off the final over, Lahore managed a boundary off the first ball before Adil turned it on, taking two wickets to dismiss the opposition short of the target.

What should have been a comfortable stroll for Lahore turned out to be a nail-biting finish and a win for Faisalabad. Boasting of several Pakistan internationals , Lahore were off to a perfect start in pursuit of a meagre target at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Hafeez, who took three for 30 to help his side restrict Faisalabad earlier in the day, then hit a quickfire 36 off just 27 balls to put his side on top. Nasir Jamshed (46) and Hafeez added 57 for the second wicket but the dismissal of Pakistan Twenty20 captain turned the match around.

Hafeez was dismissed in the ninth over with the team’s total on 70 before wickets started to fall regularly.

Adil finished with three for 23, superb figures under any circumstances in a T20 game. Imran Khalid took two for 31 — his victims being Hafeez and Umar Akmal.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2013.