Umar Akmal blitz takes Lahore home against Mumbai

Published September 14, 2014
Umar Akmal helped the Lions start their campaign off with a thumping win. -File photo
Umar Akmal helped the Lions start their campaign off with a thumping win. -File photo

Pakistan's young batting star Umar Akmal scored an unbeaten 38 off just 18 balls to help Lahore Lions stun defending champions Mumbai Indians by six wickets in the opening match of the qualifying round of the Champions League T20 on Saturday.

Batting first, Mumbai put on 135 for seven with Aditya Tare top-scoring with 37. The Lions' attack, which consisted of Test stars Aizaz Cheema (2-22), Wahab Riaz (2-31) and captain Mohammad Hafeez never really allowed Mumbai to get out of the blocks and looked fairly comfortable when they came out to chase the target.

Ahmed Shehzad (34) and Nasir Jamshed (26) combined in a 51 runs for the opening wicket before the Lions experienced a few setbacks and allowed the Keiron Pollard-led Indians to come back in the game.

Lahore needed 26 runs from the last three overs when Akmal played his blistering knock, smashing four boundaries and two sixes and taking his side home with eight deliveries to spare.

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