Sent in to bat first, Mumbai were slow from the beginning. With wickets falling at equal intervals no batsmen except Aditya Tare (37) was able to score runs. Michael Hussey showed some resistance top of the order but was sent home by Wahab Riaz. He bagged two wickets.
Aizaz Cheema took two wickets on two consecutive balls to strike another blow to Mumbai’s pace.
In reply, Lahore started well with a strong partnership from Ahmed Shahzad and Nasir Jamshed. Shehzad fell on 34 to give skipper Muhammad Hafeez a chance to walk in. Nasir Jamshed coupled with the captain to add a few more runs but got stumped on 26. Saad Nasim walked in to help the skipper but was out for six runs.
In came Umar Akmal to save the day for the Lions. He scored prolifically throughout the match but with 13 runs required he smashed two sixes on consecutive balls to tie the score in the 19th over. He then guided a full-toss towards the boundary while punching his fist in the air.
Muhammad Hafeez gave credit to fine bowling performance simultaneously admiring Umar’s batting.
"I think bowlers did their job,” said Hafeez. “The later overs were very good, everyone bowled well. I knew one good partnership would make the difference, and Umar Akmal was exceptional."
Meanwhile, Mumbai captain Kieron Pollard said,” We weren't able to get early wickets but we pulled it back in the middle. I really can't fault the bowlers, but with a wet ball, we should have made more runs. The pressure is on us now. We have never won Champions League easy, it is important that we bring our A-game tomorrow."
Lahore Lions play their second qualifier on Sunday against Northern Districts team at 1530 PST.
COMMENTS (17)
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well done lions of pakistan god bless u alll prayers r with u
Pakistan xindabad, lahore lions u r gr8
Dear All, Take it easy. It's just a T20 match between two clubs. The tamashais @ the ground were treating it like a IND-PAK match. Credit to LL as they bowled & batted well.
2 wstndz;1 aus 1 from srilnka and 7 indiens can not stop only on and only lahore.Pakistan zinda abad
@Ishan: Not such a good joke. However, the one who wrote the joke doesn't know the difference between Saffron and Orange.
What a victory by Lahore Lions over Mumbai Indians. They silenced more than 40 thousand partisan fans, 2 biased Indian umpires and Mrs Ambani. Mumbai had services of Pollard, Malinga, Hussey, Harbhajan and many other International stars and John Wright, Kumble, Jonty Rhodes and Robin Singh to guide them. It was like watching talented kids from poor area with broken bats hammering the kids of millionaires with new kits.
Chennai will finally win this season of Champions league. #Hope
Well played Lahore! One of the jokes on twitter - "Lahore wearing orange Jersey to appease Shiv Sena so that can be part of IPL."
@Afzal Khan Marwat: Yes :) .... but is sad that a club match looked and felt like a Pakistan vs India match.
@Mia: Agree with Hafeez being the captain in the shorter version but Fawad Alam ??? He is not even a regular in the team.
Lions' win does not mean it was not fixed.
It was fixed like IPL.
Loved the faces of Indians After the defeat...
Okay, I'll be the fickle fan and say re-instate the professor as the t20 and one dayer kapitaan. Work on his consistency in batting and ask him to be aggressive. He gas the maturity. He is a leader!
Or perhaps Fawad Alam (Karachi boy) as the T20 Captain and the prof. As the Kapitaan of the 50 over format.
Let Misbah tuk, tuk the remaining days as the test Kapitaan! Hallelujah praise The Lord.
nice match!! go delhi
Fantastic play........Well Done Lions
Well done Lahore Lions!!!!