Lahore Qalandars win Abu Dhabi T20

The Pakistan Super League side shocked South Africa’s Multiply Titans, the favourites for the competition, as they feverishly defended a target of 149, including 19 off the last over, to win by 15 runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium

^{Lahore Qalandars won the Abu Dhabi T20}

Lahore Qalandars are the champions of the inaugural Abu Dhabi T20.

The Pakistan Super League side shocked South Africa’s Multiply Titans, the favourites for the competition, as they feverishly defended a target of 149, including 19 off the last over, to win by 15 runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Lahore have finished bottom of the PSL in each of its first three seasons, while the Titans have won the last three Ram Slam events.

Fledgling Pakistan international seamer Shaheen Afridi bowled a majestic penultimate over as he conceded only three runs off the bat and bowled key man Heino Kuhn, leaving fellow quick Harris Rauf breathing space in the last. The Titans finished on 133 for six. 

Lahore beat Mutliply Titans in the final

They recovered from early strife at 10 for two in pursuit, with experienced middle order batsman Kuhn and Test batsman Theunis de Bruyn hitting 37 apiece.

Both sides topped their respective groups, with Lahore the surprise package in Group A.

Albie Morkel elected to bowl first, and a largely disciplined display with the ball and in the field restricted Lahore to 148 for six.

Captain Sohail Akhtar, a century maker against Yorkshire on Thursday, continued his good form with 56 off 47 balls, while South Africa international all-rounder Chris Morris returned a miserly 1-17 from four overs.

Morris had only conceded seven in his first three overs and struck in the last of the innings when he bowled Shehzad Ali.

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Tshepo Moreki’s figures of 3-33 were spoilt by conceding 17 off the 18th when Englishman Phil Salt hit him for successive sixes.

Akhtar and Mohammad Faizan, who hit 32, shared 81 in 12 overs for the second wicket to advance from 26 for one in the fourth.

But they were two of three wickets to fall for four runs as Lahore slipped from 107 one to 111 for four. However, wicketkeeper-batsman Salt added some late impetus with an inventive 26 off 15 balls.

The Titans chances were undermined four balls into their reply when leg-spinner Maaz Khan trapped Tony de Zorzi, playing back, lbw for a golden duck.

The same bowler then forced Henry Davids to chop onto his stumps at the start of the third over as the score fell to 10 for two.

Qalandars won the final by 15 runs

Khan (2-23) bowled his four overs unchanged at the start of the innings and helped build pressure. 

De Bruyn shared 60 for the third wicket with opener Rivaldo Moonsamy, who helped to steady the ship with 27 before slicing Agha Salman’s off-spin to short third-man as the score fell to 70 for three in the 11th.

That brought Kuhn to the crease, who busily chipped away at the target. He lost de Bruyn and had to get 23 off the last two overs.

But left-armer Afridi, 18-years-old, belied his tender years to expertly nail his yorkers and get the ball reverse swinging before Morkel and Morris failed to get Rauf away, sparking wild celebrations.

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