Lahore Eagles crowned Pakistan T20 Champs

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Lahore Eagles crowned Pakistan T20 Champs​

October 17th, 2010 by Tasawwar Abbas

LAHORE: All-rounder Abdul Razzaq stole the show in the final of the National Twenty20 Cup, once again proving his worth as Lahore Eagles defeated Karachi Dolphins by 35 runs to clinch the domestic Twenty20 title at Qaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

Abdul Razzaq​

This was the first final since April 2005 where Sialkot Stallions were not playing for the title.

This was also Mohammad Yousuf’s first title as captain as he led Lahore Eagles to domestic glory in style.

Star of the show was Abdul Razzaq who smashed Karachi bowlers all across the Qaddafi Stadium scoring 71 runs from just 29 balls with the help of six sixes and four boundaries.

The match started with Yousuf winning the toss and deciding to bat first, a decision that attracted criticism by local greats of the game.

However, his batsmen proved the skipper right with some beautiful batting display as openers Nasir Jamshed (68 from 57 – 3 sixes, 4 boundaries) and Ahmed Shehzad (43 from 23 – 2 sixes, 5 boundaries) laid the foundation of a huge total on a placid Qaddafi Stadium pitch.

Abdul Razzaq​

The duo added 72 for the opening wicket from just 7.4 overs giving the coming batsmen the opportunity to free their arms and take chances against toothless Dolphins attack.

Umar Akmal (17 from 9) came at the crease after dismissal of Shehzad but departed quickly in a bid to further up the scoring rate, setting a challenging total for the Shahid Afridi-led Karachi Dolphins that had the services of the Mr. Explosive of the tournament, Shahzaib Hasan.

Abdul Razzaq then joined the opener Nasir Jamshed for a 84-run third wicket partnership during which Razzaq got his eyes in and showed his class with the bat.

Lahore Eagles scored 112 runs from the last 50 balls as they piled up a huge total of 221 for the loss of three wickets from their 20 overs, posing serious challenge to a strong Karachi outfit.

None of the Dolhpins bowlers were spared by an aggressive Razzaq who once again using his old-fashioned technique of clearing front leg and then hitting the ball ferociously over the boundary line.

Abdul Razzaq​

Despite of the huge target, Karachi Dolphins were never out of the contention as their main batsmen were in prime touch, especially Shahzaib Hasan has had played some seriously incredible innings in the tournament.

Opening pair of the Karachi Dolphins failed to give an electrifying start to the chase as Khalid Latif (8 from fell early and Shahzaib Hasan (33 from 16), Man of the Match of the semi-final clash against Islamabad Leopards, also fooled by a slower delivery by Aizaz Cheema.

Asad Shafiq (12 from 9) departed in no time playing a pull shot straight into the hands of Umar Akmal who doesn’t drop many.

Fawad Alam (22 from 15) spent some time at the crease but Wahab Riaz got rid of him leaving Karachi Dolphins in a spot of bother at 4 down for 90 in the 10th over.

Afsar Nawaz (17 from 12) then joined skipper Shahid Khan Afridi (48 from 29) and the pair added 51 runs for the fifth wicket partnership from just 22 balls.

However, Afsar and Sarfraz Ahmed (0) went in quick time leaving Shahid Afridi running out of partners as the skipper decided to take long route.

Waqas Ahmed then made use of the urgency and got rid of Afridi when he tried to force a slower delivery out of the park but in the process lost his middle stump.

Rest was quite a formality as Lahore Eagles completed victory in the last over bundling Karachi Dolphins at 184 runs, thus sealing victory by huge margin of 35 runs to lift the National Twenty20 Cup.

Abdul Razzaq was declared Man of the Final; Shahzaib Hasan clinched the Batsman of the Tournament; while Wahab Riaz won the Bowler of the Tournament accolade.

The Sports Encounter – It's all about Sports Lahore Eagles crowned Pakistan T20 Champs