From highs to lows in just under 24 hours, that is exactly what happened with the Lahore Lions in the Champions League T20 qualifier against Northern Knights as they slumped to an embarrassing 72 runs defeat in Raipur on Sunday.
Chasing a stiff 171-run target, Lions were ripped apart by Kiwi pacers, Tim Southee and Trent Boult, as they were bundled inside 20 overs for a mere 98 in 18 overs.
The New Zealanders were electric on the field and caught almost everything that came their way, including a screamer on the boundary line to dismiss Asif Raza. In short, Knights outplayed their subcontinent rivals in every department.
Earlier, Lions skipper Mohammad Hafeez decided to bowl first and his decision paid dividend, when Anton Devcich (9) and Kane Williamson (14) were dismissed cheaply. Daniel Harris (20) and Daniel Flynn made most of the fielding errors and recovered the Trans-Tasman side.
Knights’ innings shifted gear, after the arrival of BJ Watling, who started to thrash the bowlers all over the park. Both Flynn (53) and Watling (53) completed their fifties and also stitched a 93-run partnership to put their team on course of a decent total.
After posting a competitive total on the board, the Knights came out all guns blazing and troubled the Pakistan side from the word go. Nasir Jamshed (5) was the first to depart, when he was castled by Southee, while Boult dismissed Ahmad Shehzad (2) in the following over.
The Pakistani batsmen were clueless against the moving ball and never looked convincing while playing any of the Kiwi bowlers. Southee finished with three wickets, Boult struck twice and leg-spinner Ish Sodhi also scalped two.
Saad Nasim (58) was the standout performer for Lions and finished with a well complied 40-ball 58 but his effort proved too little as none of the other batsmen touched the double digit mark.
The spectacular Knights have won both their encounters in the qualifier so far and have virtually sealed a place in the main round. They will play Mumbai Indians in their last qualifying game in Raipur on September 16.
