Champions League T20: McCullum blitz tames Wolves

Faisalabad outfit in must-win situation after eight-wicket loss to Otago.

KARACHI: Faisalabad Wolves started their Champions League Twenty20 campaign with an eight-wicket loss to Otago in their opening qualifying-round game in Mohali yesterday.  

A shaky start from the batting line-up and a dropped catch of Otago captain Brendon McCullum, who scored an unbeaten half-century, lead to the defeat, according to coach Naved Anjum.

The toss was won by Misbahul Haq, who decided to bat, hoping to get a flurry of runs from the top-order.

But that didn’t happen as Wolves lost early wickets and were at 34 for three at one stage with Ammar Mehmood, Ali Waqas and Asif Ali returning to the dug-out without much contribution.

Khurram Shahzad (24) and Misbah (46) then established a partnership of 59 runs for the fourth wicket. But after their dismissal with the score at 108 for five in the 17th over, Wolves could only manage to set a 140-run target for New Zealand’s domestic champions.

“It was a very nice pitch to bat, but we didn’t make a good start,” said Misbah expressing discontent on the team’s batting. “As a professional, you have to adjust and play.”

In reply, Otago had a stuttering start as well as they lost Neil Broom for naught on Samiullah Khan’s delivery. They lost their second wicket on 41 with Saeed Ajmal removing Hamish Rutherford for 25.

But McCullum along with wicket-keeper Derek de Boorder saved the team from further setbacks, securing the win with 13 balls to spare.

McCullum lived up to expectations and smashed 83 from 65 deliveries, laced with nine fours and two sixes.

Wolves in must-win situation

Misbah’s men are now in a must-win situation in their remaining matches to qualify for the main event.

They face Indian outfit Sunrisers Hyderabad today and will then tackle Kandurata Maroon of Sri Lanka on September 20.

Team manager Naved Anjum hoped for a strong comeback.

“We’ll assess our weaknesses for a better performance against Sunrisers,” Anjum told The Express Tribune from Mohali. “The team made mistakes. Some of our batsmen played loose shots while the dropped catch also cost us. We know that we cannot afford to lose now and we will go all-out to bounce back.”

He also praised arrangements from the organisers and gave thumbs-up to the security.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18^th, 2013.

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