Islamabad thrash Lahore to claim second PSL win

Sport360 staff 06:10 11/02/2016
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  • Fine showing: Sharjeel Khan.

    Islamabad United registered their second win of the Pakistan Super League season as they thrashed Lahore Qalandars by eight wickets in Sharjah on Wednesday night.

    Openers Shane Watson (79 off 47 balls) and Sharjeel Khan (79 from 43) added 153 in less than 14 overs as Islamabad overhauled the target of 167 with more than four overs to spare.

    The win sent Lahore to the bottom of the table following their third defeat in four games.

    Earlier, Islamabad bowlers kept Lahore batsmen in check as they kept taking wickets at regular intervals.

    Paceman Mohammad Sami took two for 21 from his three overs while Rumman Raees, Imran Khalid and Saeed Ajmal chipped in with a wicket apiece as the Qalandars were restricted to 166 for six.

    For Lahore, wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan top scored with 50 not out from 27 balls. A target of 167 was never going to be enough with Australian batsman Watson in full flow. He cracked seven sixes and four boundaries in his entertaining knock that powered the Islamabad innings.

    His partner Sharjeel played his part well too. He matched Watson shot for shot and clubbed seven sixes with five hits to the fence.

    For Lahore, only seamer Ehsan Adil managed to pick two wickets, giving away 41 runs from 3.4 overs.

    Lahore captain Azhar Ali admitted that his batsmen failed to put up a big total, which resulted in the comprehensive defeat.

    “It was a tough day. It was a 180 (run) wicket with the short boundary. In the second half there was dew and it was tough on bowlers,” he said.

    After the win, Watson thanked his partner Sharjeel for taking the pressure off him and allowing him to bat freely. “Sharjeel hits the ball very powerfully. I struggled early on and he took some pressure off me,” he said.

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