Raipur: Northern Knights scored 170 in 20 overs after putting onto bat first by Lahore Lions' skipper Mohammad Hafeez in the 2014 CLT20 qualifier match played at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur on Sunday.
The Kiwi team after a comprehensive victory against Southern Express yesterday were off to a bad start today. Struggling Anton Devcich (9) mistimes the shot to Wahab Riaz at mid-off. The half centurion in the last match Kane Williamson too was looking uncomfortable in playing shots. After bring dropped by Nasir Jamshed at the score of 9, he top edged the ball while playing a slog sweep and Umar Akmal dismissed him for 14 finishing 37/2 in first 6 overs of powerplay.
Just as Knights were seeming to have got some momentum going, Daniel Harris (20) clips back the ball to Mohammad Hafeez to take a simple catch. After 60/3, Daniel Flynn (53) and BJ Watling built a solid 90-run stand for 4th wicket. Skipper Flynn in his 30 balls innings scored five boundaries and two sixes after being stumped by Akmal. However Watling continues to score and finished at 53 in 37 balls including seven boundaries and one six after being dismissed at a low fulltoss by Cheema.
Scott Styris was dismissed to Cheema for 14 off 10 balls, who was caught at long-on by Shehzad just after Watling's dismissal.
Also see: CLT20: Qualifier 3: Lahore Lions vs Northern Knights scoreboard
Sloppy fielding and careless wicketkeeping really cost the Lions. Experinced Wahab Riaz was unable to get a single wicket in his 4 overs for 33 runs.
Mohammad Hafeez took one wicket for runs in 4 overs. Asif Raza was the most reasonable bowler for his side. Getting the first breakthrough for Lions he bowled 3 overs for 14 runs and a wicket.
Aizaz Cheema was a bit costly, giving away 30 runs for 1 wicket in 3 overs. But his last over went for just 5 runs and two wickets in two balls of Styris and well-settled Watling. Three quick wickets in the last 3 overs restricted the Knights to 170 which seemed to be going past 180 at one time. Cheema finished with the bowling figures of 3 wickets for 35 runs in 4 overs. Adnan Rasool was another wicket taker for Lions who dismissed the skipper Flynn.
With Umar Akmal in attacking form and Hafeez, Shehzad and Jamshed looking comfortable in batting, it would not be a difficult chase for the Lahore Lions. A win would almost fix their place in the main rounds starting 17th this month.
