Lahore Badshahs opener plunders a 44-ball hundred that includes 11 sixes to give his team an eight-wicket win with 37 balls to spare AHMEDABAD: Superman wore green, had flowing locks and produced a blitzkrieg of unparallel impact. This Superman didn’t come from planet Krypton, but from Gujranwala in Pakistan. He went by the name of Imran Nazir.
The Lahore Badshahs opener hit seven fours and 11 sixes as he led the charge in the final against the Hyderabad Heroes. Chasing 159 for a win, Nazir pulled off an eight-wicket win single-handedly for his team. He knocked over the target with a six and also brought up his hundred with a similar shot. He remained unbeaten on 111 and Lahore won with 37 balls to spare.
What’s more he hit the longest six of the tournament, one that measured 114 metres. The shot earned him $10,000 but his innings brought glory to his team. After the ill-tempered second final, the onus was on the Badshahs to play a perfect game and put behind the criticism they received for challenging the authority of the on-field umpires.
Nazir batted with a runner, but Rana Naved-ul Hasan didn’t have to break into a sweat. Nazir did all the big-hitting and the fielders and the bowlers were most of the time just mere spectators.
Nazir took the attack to the opposition early. Nazir made 24 runs from Abdul Razzaq’s first over. One of Nazir’s shots sent the ball out of the stadium. He ended the evening by taking 26 runs off medium-pacer Alfred Absolom’s over. For the 35,000 who were witness to this final, it was a treat.
Many records fell as the Badshahs charged to victory. The fifty partnership for the first wicket came in just 20 balls of which Nazir contributed 42 runs. Nazir, in 16 balls, went on to plunder fastest fifty in ICL. He also hit the fastest Twenty20 hundred off just 44 balls, surpassing Chris Gayle’s 50-ball effort in the opening game of the World T20.
Nicky Boje spilled a chance in the sixth over, the only foothold into the game Nazir offered the Heroes.
Farhat, not one to shy away from giving the ball a big hit, was unusually quiet on the day as his partner took centre stage. Farhat was caught by Boje at short fine-leg but with Nazir going hammer and tongs one end there was no cause for panic in the Badshahs dugout. Boje then got the wicket of Shahid Yousuf, the No.3 batsman, in the next over but it was too little too late.
