LAHORE, Feb 27 (APP):Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane recorded his best figures in all Twenty20 cricket as Lahore Qalandar demolished Quetta Gladiators by eight wickets in the HBL Super League in Dubai on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old grabbed 4-10 in his four overs as Quetta – put
into bat by Lahore — were bowled out for 106 in 19.1 overs. The meager target proved a cake-walk for Lahore as they chased that down in 16.3 overs with AB de Villiers scoring an undefeated 38-ball 47 and
Haris Sohail notched 42-ball 33 not out, said the information made available here.
The defeat is Quetta’s second successive after winning four
straight games. They still topped the table with eight points (four wins, two defeats in six games) while the win lifted Lahore to fourth with three wins, three losses and six points in six matches.
Peshawar Zalmi are second with six points (three wins and two defeats in five matches), Islamabad United are third (six points in six matches, three wins and three defeats).
Multan Sultans are fifth with four points (four losses and two wins in six matches)
and Karachi Kings are sixth (four points with two wins, three defeats
in five matches).
Quetta had beaten Lahore in the first phase in Sharjah with
Sarfraz hitting a last ball six but this time Quetta were not up to
the mark with Lamichhane running them over with some brilliant bowling.
Lahore too were off to a poor start when Pakistan opener Fakhar — leading the side in this game – fell in the first over for two.
Gauhar Ali made a rapid 21 before he too fell.
But Sohail, playing his first game since returning from the tour
of South Africa in December last year, added 74 runs for the unfinished third wicket stand with De Villiers. Sohail hit three boundaries and
De Villiers cracked seven hits to the rope.
Lamichhane said he was pleased with his performance.
“I am very happy,” said Lamichanne. “Fakhar (captain) asked
me to bowl in the power-play and I am happy that I fulfilled the
confidence of my captain.”
Fakhar praised Lamichhane.
“Lamichhane bowled well and he is in form so the win is pleasing,”
said Fakhar.
Quetta captain Sarfraz Ahmed admitted his side did not score big.
“We got off to a good start but then Lamichhane bowled well and
got wickets so we did not put a good total,” said Sarfraz.
Quetta’s batting was in disarray against some quality spin of Lamichhane, with opener Ahsan Ali (25-ball 33 with two sixes and
three boundaries) and Sarfraz Ahmed (27-ball 29 with just a boundary)
were the main run-getters.
Lamichhane, whose previous best of 3-11 came for Melbourne Stars against Sydney Strikers on February 10 this year in the Big Bash
League, broke the 33-run opening stand by trapping Shane Watson
leg before for seven.
He struck a double blow in his second over with wickets of Rilee Rossouw (seven) and Umar Akmal (one) as Quetta were left reeling
at 3-45. It became 4-47 when Danish Aziz tried a reverse sweep
off Lamichhane and was caught in the slip.
Ahsan was run out in the ninth over as it was left to skipper
Sarfraz to fight for recovery. Sarfraz added 33 for the sixth wicket
with Mohammad Nawaz who made 12.
But wasn’t enough as Yasir Shah had Sarfraz while Haris Rauf
grabbed wickets of Nawaz and Fawad Ahmed to finnish with figures
of 2-23.
Title holders Islamabad United meet Karachi Kings in the match
later Wednesday.
