Razzaq’s heroics down Badshahs in first ICL final
PANCHKULA, India: Pakistan’s discarded all-rounder Abdul Razzaq took two wickets off the last three balls of the match to help Hyderabad Heroes record an upset six-run triumph over title favourites Lahore Badshahs in the first of the best-of-three finals, of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) Edelweiss Challenge here at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium on Friday, writes Khalid Hussain.
Needing 12 runs off the final over to draw first blood in the finals, the Badshahs collapsed under pressure to suffer what was their first defeat in the contest. The loss follows seven straight wins for the Badshahs, a team formed entirely of Pakistani players.
It was their former teammate Razzaq who landed fatal blows on the Badshahs. He clean bowled tail-enders Mohammad Sami and Shahid Nazir within a span of three balls to seal a win for the Heroes in front of a packed stadium.
Chasing a modest 144 to win, the Badshahs suffered a top order collapse as they slumped to 65-5 in the the 13th over. But a 16-ball 34 by all-rounder Azhar Mahmood brought them very close to winning their eighth game in a row.
One of the culprits for the Badshahs was their top scorer Taufeeq Umar. The left-hander opener the innings and returned not out at 43 off 48 balls that included just three fours. He was unable to up the tempo and was finally left stranded at the non-striker’s end.
Razzaq finished with impressive figures of 3-18 in four overs.
Earlier, Ambati Rayadu’s 44 guided Hyderabad Heroes to a competitive total of 143 for 6. Openers Jimmy Maher and Abdul Razzaq gave the Heroes a solid start after their skipper Chris Harris won the toss and opted to bat first. But Razzaq, who hoisted Rana Naved for a huge sixer was sent back by the experienced medium pacer with Hasan Raza taking a fine catch at extra cover.
The Heroes were 37-1 in 5.2 overs and from then on things slowed down for them with pacer Mohammad sami bowling a tight spell (4-0-15-0).
Leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed broke the second-wicket partnership between Maher and Rayadu when he clean bowled Maher (33) with a perfect googly. Justin Kemp then joined Rayadu as the duo took the Heroes score to 117 for 2 in 17.3 overs before Kemp (11) was clean bowled by Rana Naved.
Rayadu (44) was run out in the penultimate over after a quick throw from Inzamam-ul-Haq before Anirudh Singh struck a boundary in the same over. Stuart Binny (3) was run out in the last over as Rana removed the bails to make it 131 for 5 in 19.2 overs for Heroes.
Chris Harris struck a towering six after a no ball in the last over bowled by Naved before Harris(8) was run out by Azhar Mahmood on the last ball. Mushtaq was the Badshahs best bowler picking up two wickets but more importantly giving away just 14 off his four overs.
news source : http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=104889