The bowling by Lahore Lions had looked lethal on the opening night of the Oppo Champions League Twenty20 on Saturday. A day after, the Northern Knights stole its aforementioned rival’s thunder, reducing its batting to rubble and defeat with some high-velocity stuff on Sunday.
The Kiwis simply could do no wrong, showcased by the spectacular catch plucked out of thin air by the Tim Southee-Daryl Mitchell combine. Southee, poised precariously inches inside the midwicket ropes, held Asif Raza’s heave, halting an otherwise certain six.
Careful not to tread on the boundary line he was sure he’d tip over it, tilting as he did at an impossible angle to take the catch. Southee duly descended earthwards but not before popping a perfect lob to an approaching Mitchell.
The Antipodean speedsters largely arm-twisted the Lions into submission. A hostile assault by Southee (three for 22) and Trent Boult (two for 12) tore the stuffing out of the Lahore side’s response, with sole spinner Ish Sodhi chipping in with two for 30.
Ahmed Shehzad dabbed at a drifter from Boult and paid the price when he was pouched by Watling. Hafeez, attempting to hook a Southee snorter, snicked to Watling instead. Akmal who had shepherded his side to safety and then victory against the MI the night before, saw his stumps spread-eagled by another Boult beauty.
With the higher-ups in the batting hierarchy gone, Umar Siddique couldn’t quite face up to the firepower of Southee. Thereon, the tail folded and tamely too.
