Imran Nazir Blasts Century As Badshahs Claim Title

Lahore Badshahs 160-2 (Imran Nazir 111no) beat
Hyderabad Heroes 158-7 (Ibrahim Khaleel 45, Shahid Nazir 3-29) by eight wickets
Scorecard
ICL 20s Indian Championship Final 3, Ahmedabad

Imran Nazir hammered 111 in just 44 balls as the Lahore Badshahs claimed the 2008/9 ICL Championship with an emphatic eight-wicket win over reigning champions in Ahmedabad.

Nazir smashed seven fours and 11 sixes to guide his side home in the 14th over after the Heroes had posted 158 for seven from their 20 overs.

Nazir's maiden ICL century was a breathtaking innings of explosive hitting and came despite him needing a runner from early on. Chasing the same target as they had done one day before when they were bowled out for 150, Abdul Razzaq's first over disappeared for 24 with Nazir hitting three sixes, the first a 95 metre over cover from ball one, and from that time on, the game was effectively over.

He gave one chance when he was dropped by Nicky Boje at long-off and to compound the misery the ball rolled over the ropes for four.

The roles of Imran Farhat (28) and Shahid Yousuf (one) were reduced to merely getting Nazir back on strike before Mohammad Yousuf stroked three fours late on to end unbeaten on 17.

The match itself was ended as the second innings had started with Nazir hammering Alfred Absolem over midwicket for his 11th maximum with a massive 37 balls to spare.

The Heroes had started the match well enough after captain Chris Harris won the toss for the first time in the final series and opted to bat.

Ibrahim Khaleel rode his luck early on to reach 45 in 25 deliveries but once again no other batsmen could post a decent score. Shahid Nazir struck twice in one over to return three for 29 and man of the series Rana Naved-ul-Hasan bowled superbly at the death to prevent the Heroes a late rally.

Stuart Binny (25 from 18 balls) and Boje (19 from 12) briefly threatened to haul their side up to a good score, but were dismissed by Saqlain Mushtaq and Mohammad Sami respectively.

It all proved academic, however, as with Imran Nazir in the form of his life, a score of 300 might not have been beyond the Badshahs.

© Cricket World 2008