Islamabad win toss, put Lahore into bat

Only Dwayne Bravo acquitted himself well among the Lahore bowlers, the West Indies allrounder giving away just 28 runs in four overs. Umar Akmal, despite showing intent by hitting two sixes, was also dismissed in the twenties.

The Qalandars will be hoping Chris Gayle can find his destructive form with the bat at the top of the order while Shane Watson and Pakistan hero Misbah-ul-Haq are the key men for Islamabad.

His 50 off 27 balls with five fours and three sixes gave Lahore’s total a semblance of respectability but the Islamabad batting simply proved too good for them.

Watson slammed seven sixes and four boundaries in his 79 which came off just 47 balls before he lost his wicket with the score on 153 in the 14th over.

The win has taken Islamabad United to the third position in the points table while Lahore Qalandars are languishing at the bottom with a solitary win in the four games. Andre Russell, promoted to No. 3, holed out for 2, but Sharjeel finished the game off with back-to-back sixes as United won with 25 balls and eight wickets to spare. Chasing Qalandars’ 166 for the loss of 6 wickets, United made 169 for the loss of two wickets courtesy a quick-fire and unbeaten 43-ball 79 by Shahrjeel.

Sharjeel, who was the best player for United, and Rizwan, who was the best player for the Qalandars, were not picked for the Pakistan World T20 squad and their respective knocks showed that it might have been a wrong decision on the part of the Pakistan Cricket Board to have ignored these two talented players.