Lahore Qalandars pulled off a sensational one-wicket win over Islamabad United on Monday night, Grant Elliott sealing victory with a six and just four balls left in the contest.
Elliott’s 26 from 17 balls showcased some superb late hitting, delivering the final blow only made possible by an Umar Akmal innings of the highest quality.
Set 146 for victory, Lahore looked well off the pace for the majority of the chase until an Akmal masterclass set up another thrilling finish in Sharjah.
Akmal continued the match’s theme of Pakistan players coming to the fore, finding willing partners scant until he exited the stage.
The writing looked to be on the wall once Akmal was trapped in front by Shadab for 66 but two Sunil Narine sixes from the first three balls he faced lifted Lahore before Elliott’s heroics.
Islamabad were leaking boundaries, unable to keep their cool and put the stoppers on Lahore as they had done throughout the majority of the match.
On the day the PSL confirmed that franchises and management agreed on the final taking place in Lahore, it was fitting that homegrown players took centre stage throughout.
Islamabad had young pair Shadab Khan and Amad Butt to thank for posting as many as 145-8.
They came together with the score 83-6 after a number of decisions went against Islamabad’s more senior players with Dwayne Smith, Misbah-ul-Haq and Shane Watson all displeased with their dismissals.
Misbah’s, in particular, was laughable, the Islamabad captain shown to be nowhere near edging one from Aamer Yamin but given out caught behind nonetheless.
Yamin was the star with the ball for Lahore, taking 3-13 in his first PSL outing for the Qalandars.
Likewise, it was the Pakistan products that shined for Islamabad, Butt contributing 17 in a partnership with Shadab, who made 42 from 24 balls that without would’ve left Islamabad well short of a competitive total.
The Islamabad bowlers’ gratefulness was obvious as they too set about dismantling the Lahore top-order.
A wicket each for Mohammad Irfan, Rumman Raees Shadab and Watson left Lahore tottering at 54-4 at the halfway stage in need of their own inspired late charge a la Shadab and Butt.
Akmal did just that, the Pakistan international doing all the running as his fifty kept the Qalandars in the contest, one they eventually won against all the odds.
