Ahmadabad Rockets were expected to crunch down the score of 136 runs in 20 overs, set by Lahore Badshahs. But Azhar Mahmood, the captain of Lahore in the absence of Inzamam, was confident enough on his arsenal of bowlers to defend such a meek total in a ruined pitch. In the first over itself Md Sami unraveled the middle stump of Campbell and Azhar Mahmood joined him by parting the off stump of Rockets captain, Martyn in the 4th over.

Rockets could only make 29 runs out of the first 6 field restricted overs and immediately there after, Godwin departed to make things worst for the home team. Sodhi’s aggressiveness too failed to reverse sweep Saqlain, and finally he went back with a handful of 14 runs. But before departing, he made sure that his team crossed over 50 runs by a marvelous shot over the ropes in the 10th over. Aziz was still there in the crease to give some sort of resistance but no one could give him the much needed support by surviving against Lahore Badshah’s bowling. Cricket360 rates Saqlain as the most successful bowler of Lahore side as he ruined each and every effort of the Rockets to come back into the game.

At the end Cricket360 feared that Rockets wouldn’t touch three digits but, they get past it by a last minute flick to the fence in the 19th over and Lahore Badshahs rounded up the rival’s innings with 5 balls to spare at 105 runs.

Earlier, batting first, Lahore Badshahs started off well with a well defined 54 runs of first 6 overs. Cricket360 too thought of them making a big total, capitalizing up on that start in their crucial match to procure a win in the ICL Season 2 . But they got in to the back seat when Ahmadabad Rockets captain Martyn decided to bring in the spinners to attack over the Badshahs. The pitch was getting spinner friendly after the afternoon match between Mumbai and Bengal. Kalia, an unknown figure was seemed like imitating the likes of Shane Warne as he succeeded in turning the ball at high degree. The teenager picked 3 valuable Badshahs conceding only 19 runs in 4 overs. He along with other spinners rewrote the story and Badshahs were unable to steal runs as they were reduced to 97/4 after the third quarter of their innings.

Two tall men, Heath Streak and Gillespie were guarding the fence and when Mahmood tried to breach, he was given the passport to the pavilion by Gillespie. The lone warrior in the form of Khalid was hit wicket at 27 runs in the 17th over and the rest of the players were interested in lifting the ball rather than smashing them long, crciket360 noticed. Except Khalid, Nazir and Farhat no Badshah could get a taste of double figure and the whole credit goes to Ahmadabad Rockets bowlers.

At the end of the day Azhar Mahmood, assigned with the role of captaincy, went back home with their first ever victory in the ICL Season 2 and with the award for man of the match. Cricket360 was, however expecting Saqlain to get the man of the match award as he ensured their 31 runs win by uprooting three opponent wickets.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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