Nadeem
04-04-2008, 02:36 PM
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Punchkula: In yet another thrilling semi-final encounter, Lahore Badshahs prevailed over Kolkata Tigers by seven runs to make it to the finals of the second edition of the Indian Cricket League's Twenty20 tournament at Tau Devi Lal stadium here on Thursday.
Badshahs, who remained unbeaten in this tournament, had time and again imposed their superiority over the other teams in the league stage. Today they were given a run for their money.
Veteran Lance Klusener almost threatened to run away with the match with a brilliant knock of 91 in 57 balls (11 boundaries and three sixes). He and he alone looked the one who could overhaul the imposing total of 182-7 set by Badshahs earlier in the day.
It all boiled down to the last two overs with Tigers needing 31 runs.
Zulu and Rohan Gavaskar collected 13 runs in the penultimate over. Requiring 18 to win in the last over of Azhar Mahmood, Gavaskar took one run to give the strike back to Klusener, who responded with a massive six to make the equation: 11 runs in four balls.
Mahmood, however, kept his nerves giving away just two runs off the next ball before delivering two consecutive dot balls.
The tension built up again when Mahmood, with Tigers needing nine runs, bowled a wide. Klusener, however, couldn’t time the last ball and was caught at Imran Nazir at long-off.
Earlier, Deep Dasgupta and Lance Klusener got off to a confident start notching up 62 in seven overs. Shahid Nazir got the breakthrough when he bowled Dasgupta who made an 18-ball 22.
Shiv Sagar Singh, touted as a big-hitter, was promoted up the order. He hit a few crisp blows to race to 19 off 22 balls before losing his wicket to Mushtaq Ahmed.
Skipper Craig McMillan (1) did not take long to go join Singh in the dressing room. Shahid Nazir claimed him in the next over.
Meanwhile, Klusener continued to send the fielders on a leather hunt even though the asking run-rate kept mounting.
In company of Rohan Gavaskar, Klusener — he offered a chance in the 18th over but was dropped by Mohammad Sami — kept Tigers' hopes alive but failed to close the match in the last gasp.
Punchkula: In yet another thrilling semi-final encounter, Lahore Badshahs prevailed over Kolkata Tigers by seven runs to make it to the finals of the second edition of the Indian Cricket League's Twenty20 tournament at Tau Devi Lal stadium here on Thursday.
Badshahs, who remained unbeaten in this tournament, had time and again imposed their superiority over the other teams in the league stage. Today they were given a run for their money.
Veteran Lance Klusener almost threatened to run away with the match with a brilliant knock of 91 in 57 balls (11 boundaries and three sixes). He and he alone looked the one who could overhaul the imposing total of 182-7 set by Badshahs earlier in the day.
It all boiled down to the last two overs with Tigers needing 31 runs.
Zulu and Rohan Gavaskar collected 13 runs in the penultimate over. Requiring 18 to win in the last over of Azhar Mahmood, Gavaskar took one run to give the strike back to Klusener, who responded with a massive six to make the equation: 11 runs in four balls.
Mahmood, however, kept his nerves giving away just two runs off the next ball before delivering two consecutive dot balls.
The tension built up again when Mahmood, with Tigers needing nine runs, bowled a wide. Klusener, however, couldn’t time the last ball and was caught at Imran Nazir at long-off.
Earlier, Deep Dasgupta and Lance Klusener got off to a confident start notching up 62 in seven overs. Shahid Nazir got the breakthrough when he bowled Dasgupta who made an 18-ball 22.
Shiv Sagar Singh, touted as a big-hitter, was promoted up the order. He hit a few crisp blows to race to 19 off 22 balls before losing his wicket to Mushtaq Ahmed.
Skipper Craig McMillan (1) did not take long to go join Singh in the dressing room. Shahid Nazir claimed him in the next over.
Meanwhile, Klusener continued to send the fielders on a leather hunt even though the asking run-rate kept mounting.
In company of Rohan Gavaskar, Klusener — he offered a chance in the 18th over but was dropped by Mohammad Sami — kept Tigers' hopes alive but failed to close the match in the last gasp.