By Travis Seymour | December 4, 2024
Lahore Qalandars pulled off a crucial 10-run victory over Victoria in a low-scoring encounter to keep their hopes alive in the ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League.
With this win, the Qalandars join Victoria and Amazon Warriors in a three-team race for the final, with all three teams now having three wins each.
The top two teams will face off in the final, scheduled for Friday at the National Stadium Providence.
Victoria won the toss and chose to bat first, but they struggled to build momentum against Lahore’s bowling attack.
After a solid start, with openers Mirza Baig and Adam Rossington hitting the ball well, Victoria was reduced to 36 for 2 in the first five overs.
Rossington was dismissed for 11 by Dominic Drakes, and Luke Wells followed soon after for 6.
Baig continued to battle on, eventually reaching 39, while Mohammad Faizan added a valuable 25, guiding Victoria to 70 for 2 after 10 overs.
However, the partnership was broken when Baig skied a ball to Corey Anderson.
A brilliant run-out dismissed Faizan soon after, and a flurry of quick wickets left Victoria at 128 for 7 after 18 overs.
Despite a cameo of 26 from Muhammad Akhlaq, and a golden duck from skipper Carlos Brathwaite, Victoria were bowled out for 139 in 19.5 overs.
Drakes and Jackson Smith were the stars for Lahore, picking up three wickets apiece.
In response, Victoria made a strong start, reaching 79 for 2 after 10 overs.
Blake MacDonald (33) and Joe Clarke (32) put them on course for the chase, but Lahore’s bowlers turned the game around with a brilliant spell.
Karima Gore fought with a 25-run cameo, but it wasn’t enough as Victoria were bowled out for 129 in 19.3 overs, falling short of the target.
Asif Afridi claimed 3 wickets for 31 runs, while Tabraiz Shamsi took 3 for 11, sealing the win for Lahore and keeping their final hopes intact.
Carlos Brathwaite, the Qalandars’ captain, explained that the team’s plan was to bowl wicket-to-wicket due to the tricky surface, and it paid off.
He also expressed his excitement about the tournament, calling it “fantastic” and a true source of entertainment.
The victory sets up a thrilling conclusion to the league as the top two teams battle for the title.