It was a competition that no one cared about, no one was barred from reaching the next stage and no one needed to increase their net run rate. But the competition that took place was the glory of the final.
Fortunately, about 25, 000 spectators were on the field to watch the match, also on Monday. That is why the people of Lahore are called lively. Their enthusiasm and zeal gave such a boost in a lifeless contest that the matter went to the super over.
Yes! The last match of the league stage of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 7 crossed all boundaries of thrill and was finally tied.
Later in the super over, Peshawar Zalmi defeated Lahore Qalandars. The spectators may not have liked this result but not only they, but every spectator enjoyed the competition very much.
With this, the first phase of the seventh season of Pakistan Super League came to an end. Defending champions Multan Sultans are at the top with 18 points after losing just one of their last 10 matches. No other team in the history of PSL has scored so many points.
Then there is Lahore Qalandars who are second with 12 points after winning 6 matches and better net run rate. We will see these two teams fighting in the qualifiers on February 23.
Lahore has reached the playoffs only once before, in 2020. He then reached the final by winning both the eliminators but lost to the traditional rival Karachi Kings.
Well, in the first eliminator we will see Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United. Peshawar has made it to the playoffs with 4 consecutive victories while Islamabad has come here after 3 consecutive defeats. Now both are facing a knockout situation.
Now, let's move on to the match that created party at midnight. The donation of the competition was of no importance but it seemed that the whole of Lahore had come. About 25, 000 spectators turned out to be the first to see Peshawar Zalmai bat.
Peshawar's innings looked under pressure from the start, even when Shoaib Malik was dismissed for 32 in the 14th over, hoping for a big score. In the last 6 overs, Peshawar managed to add only 47 runs to the score and gave Lahore a target of only 159 runs to win.
Wahab Riaz gave the first over to Shoaib Malik and he bowled Fakhr Zaman on the first ball. In other words, the first brick of victory against Lahore was placed there because the end of Fakhr's innings means that Lahore can be defeated. The silence on the field was broken by Kamran Ghulam's 25-run innings off 18 balls, but before the end of the power play, his innings ended in a very unusual way.
Kamran Ghulam Arshad Iqbal went to pull a ball, the ball rose in the air and the fielder standing on the square league Hazratullah Zazai ran back to catch it. The ball landed in her hand, but she couldn't catch it and it slipped out of her hands. By then, Mohammad Haris from the Deep Square League had also approached him. The ball was about to hit the ground after the catch was dropped when Haris made an unusual jump and caught the ball at the very last moment.
Birthday Boy and Harry Brook, who scored a century in the previous match, climbed into the hands of Emad Butt today. He had scored only 2 runs when an incoming ball of Emad made a strong appeal against him. The umpire thought that the ball hit the pad after hitting the bat and declared him not out but at the insistence of Emad Butt Peshawar Zalmi took the review. In the replay it became clear that the ball hit the first pad. Thus Brooke was declared LBW and in a short time only half of Lahore team was out for 88 runs.
When the last over started, Lahore needed 24 runs with only 2 wickets left. Wahab Riaz held the ball in the hands of young bowler Mohammad Omar, in front of whom Lahore captain Shaheen Afridi was batting. Who expected Shaheen to score 24 runs? But one four and then two sixes in a row created a sensation in the field.
Shaheen did not lose heart. He leveled the match with the most brilliant six of the day on the last ball and then gave a special 'Afridi pose'.
By the way, Zalmai Fielders also had a role in bringing the matter to this point. Why did his hands and feet become swollen in the end? Missed 2 chances to catch, did some miss fields and even gave up throw runs.
The match was tied due to Mohammad Omar's 23 runs, Wahab Riaz decided to throw the super over himself and gave only 5 runs. Yes! Fakhr Zaman and Harry Brooke were in front of him but Wahab did not let anyone walk.
Peshawar got a target of only 6 runs to win, and they made no mistake this time. In pursuit, he sent Shoaib Malik along with Mohammad Haris, ie after the success of his experience in bowling, he also fielded an experienced batsman in the field. Malik Sahib ended the contest by receiving fours off Shaheen Afridi on the first two balls.
For the people of Lahore, it was an 'anti-climax', but we will say that the rightful receipt! He was the one who deserved the victory over the brilliant game that Peshawar played to defend only 158 runs.
Zalmai must remember that his path to the final is not easy. Not only does he have to win the first eliminator, but he also has to prove himself worthy of the final by beating the team that lost later in the qualifiers, which is a knockout issue for him. Don't make a mistake and end the campaign! Therefore, the mistakes of Peshawar-Lahore match must be avoided. Islamabad may not give them so many opportunities.
