The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Inzamam, Latif fashion Badshahs’s win

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Inzamam, Latif fashion Badshahs’s win

Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: From a lazy beginning to a lethal blitzkrieg, Inzamam-ul-Haq valued his wicket all along and ensured he was around to finish the job for Lahore Badshahs against defending champion Chennai Superstars in the ICL’s Edelweiss 20s Challenge at the floodlit Tau Devi Lal Stadium here on Tuesday.

Chasing Superstars’s 157 for six — built largely around opener Michael Bevan’s 56 — Badshahs rallied from 47 for four to score 158 for five in 19 overs.

Clinching factor

On a pitch where the ball was not exactly coming on to the bat, the power of Inzamam (50 not out, 43b, 1x6, 5x4), Naved Latif (41, 26b, 2x6, 4x4) and Azhar Mahmood (19 not out, 11b, 1x6, 1x4) settled the issue.

Inzamam and Latif raised 77 runs in nine overs to set the tempo after Thiru Kumaran raised visions of victory for Superstars by sending back Imran Nazir (10), Humayun Farhat (13) and Hazan Raza (0) in his first two overs. In all, Badshahs hit four sixes and 19 boundaries.

The Badshahs started its charge after being 67 for four in 11 overs and lived up to its reputation.

Bevan impresses

Earlier, Bevan’s 53-ball knock contained six boundaries. After medium-pacer Naved-ul-Hasan removed Ian Harvey (5) and Russel Arnold (3) early, Bevan and fellow left-hander Hemang Badani (30 off 26 balls) controlled the proceedings.

Badani hit a six and a four in succession off medium-pacer Riaz Afridi and delighted the crowd with his stylish stroke-play. He smashed two consecutive boundaries off Saqlain Mushtaq before being run out, falling short while attempting a second run.

The scores: Chennai Superstars 157 for six in 20 overs (Michael Bevan 56, Hemang Badani 30, Naved-ul-Hasan two for 19, Saqlain Mushtaq two for 26) lost to Lahore Badshahs 158 for five in 19 overs (Inzamam-ul-Haq 50 n.o., Naved Latif 41, Imran Farhat 20, Thiru Kumaran three for 22).

Wednesday’s match: Mumbai Champs vs. Kolkata Tigers.

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