PSL 2018, Match 24 Review: Lahore Qalandars win courtesy a gripping super over

The Lahore Qalandars struggled quite badly in the first few games, but now they registered two consecutive victories inside three days. It also happens to be the first time when they registered two consecutive wins in their entire PSL history, which is a testament to the fact that fortune has barely favored them in these 3 seasons.

Joe Denly was trapped very early in the innings by the magic of Yasir Shah, who sent him back in the 3rd over. But Lendl Simmons and Babar Azam stitched a brilliant partnership for the next wicket, which kept their scoreboard ticking. Both players have been in fine nick in the tournament and it was certainly palpable in this game.

Simmons brought in the typical Caribbean flavor into the game with his quintessentially West Indian strokeplay. Although Darren Sammy exploded on occasions, we haven’t seen the Windies players in full flow this season. Simmons reached a half-century in the 9th over. It came off just 30 deliveries and it happened to be his 43rd fifty in his T20 career.

He kept slogging the ball wildly and eventually got dismissed. But he added 72 runs for the 2nd wicket with Babar Azam and set the tone for a big score. The middle order of the Karachi Kings didn’t seem very comfortable in the middle today, failing to accumulate runs at a good rate. Colin Ingram and Bopara were not that impressive and they probably fell 10-15 short of what they must’ve expected at the halfway mark.

The Kings posted 163 runs losing 5 wickets. Whilst Simmons scored 55 off 39 balls, Babar Azam chipped in with a fine 61 off 49 balls. Sohail Khan was the pick of the bowlers, returning with 3 scalps after his name. After registering a record-breaking spell the other night, Shaheen Afridi was smacked to all parts and conceded 42 runs in his 4 overs.

Agha Salman gets another fifty

Fakhar Zaman and Devcich gave the Qalandars an ideal start. Both players looked in solid touch and clobbered the bowling unit to all parts of the ground in the first few overs. Devcich hit 5 boundaries in no time and got dismissed. Fakhar Zaman then stitched a fantastic partnership with Agha Salman, which put the Qalandars in the driving seat.

Agha Salman was very composed in the middle and didn’t take any risk whilst approaching the target. The duo added 53 runs for the second wicket and two quick wickets followed. Agha Salman and McCullum got dismissed in the same over courtesy Usman Khan and suddenly, they were reduced to 141/6 in 18 overs.

It was Sohail Akhtar in the final two overs who struck a couple of boundaries and closed down the gap between these two teams. There was drama in the final ball as Usman Khan bowled a no ball, which brought the equation from 3 needed in 1 to 1 needed in one ball. But there was a run out of the final ball, which meant the game headed to a super over.

Narine wins it in the eliminator

Fakhar Zaman was dismissed off the first ball in the one-over eliminator. But Anton Devcich’s boundary off the penultimate ball and added by a couple of wides, they managed to grab 11 runs in the over. Mohammad Amir bowled two wides in the over.

Lendl Simmons was facing Sunil Narine next and it was a dot off the first ball. Ingram got dismissed on the 3rd ball and Simmons was back on strike. Although there was a six off the final ball from Afridi, Narine gave away just 2 runs off the first five balls, which was enough to win the game.

Brief Scores

Karachi Kings: 163/5 in 20 overs (Babar Azam 61, Lendl Simmons 55; Sohail Khan 3/34)

Lahore Qalandars: 163/8 in 20 overs (Agha Salman 50; Mohammad Irfan Jnr 2/35)

Lahore Qalandars won by Super over

Player of the match: Agha Salman