Qalandars revive PSL hopes with shock win against Zalmi

Published February 13, 2016
Lahore Qalandars will desperately hoping to get some points on the table. — PCB
Lahore Qalandars will desperately hoping to get some points on the table. — PCB

All-rounders Kevon Cooper and Cameron Delport took three wickets each to help Lahore Qalandars beat a strong Peshawar Zalmi side in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Saturday.

Peshawar Zalmi, at some instances, showed signs of coming back in the game as they pursued a target of 165 runs, but failed to do so as the Lahore bowlers kept the run flow tight and took wickets at the right times.

Earlier, Tamim Iqbal provided a decent start to Peshawar before losing his fellow opener Mohammad Hafeez in the fourth over but contributed 30 off 22 balls before getting dismissed in the seventh over.

Cameron Delport was equally good with the bat as he smashed 78 off 61 balls for Lahore Qalandars in the first innings.

The South African southpaw in a 3rd wicket partnership with Umar Akmal plundered 101 runs at the rate of 9.46 runs per over against a strong Zalmi bowling attack.

Delport hit three sixes and six fours, while Akmal in his 31-ball-52 smashed six boundaries.

Chris Gayle continued his poor run of form for Lahore Qalandars as the flamboyant opener was dismissed for a duck.

Azhar Ali, the Lahore captain tried to provide stability after a poor start along with Delport but he also failed to make a meaningful contribution before falling out to Darren Sammy after scoring 25 off 26 balls.

Zalmi hoped to reclaim the top spot after winning the toss and bowling first against the embattled Qalandars side at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Dawid Malan came back for Zalmi in place of James Allenby while captain Azhar Ali and Adnan Rasool returned for the Qalandars.

Lahore, who were placed at the bottom of the PSL points table with just one victory in five games, by beating a dominant Zalmi side, made it easier for themselves to claim a play-off spot.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.