Akmal stars as Lions eliminate Dolphins

A fantastic all-round performance by Robbie Frylinck was not enough to prevent the Dolphins from getting knocked out the Champions League T20 by the Lahore Lions.

The Lions won the toss and batted first in Bangalore, though captain Mohammad Hafeez might have been regretting the decision when his side were floundering on 53/4 after the first 10 overs.

Frylinck made the first two breakthrough for the Dolphins in the first 5 overs, dismissing both Ahmed Shehzad and Nasir Jamshed cheaply.

Kyle Abbott then struck in the sixth over to send Agha Salman back to the pavilion, and there was more trouble for the Lions when Hafeez was bowled by Cameron Delport for just 8 runs.

But Umar Akmal then joined Saad Nasim at the crease, and the pair set about rescuing the Lions’ innings, combining for a 92-run partnership that set Lahore back on track.

Frylinck would eventually dismiss Nasim for his third wicket, but Akmal and Asif Raza guided the Lions home with a number of lusty blows to lift their side to a very competitive 164/5 from their 20 overs.

Akmal finished unbeaten on 73 off just 45 deliveries, with Nasim’s 43 runs off 26 balls the other main contribution.

Much like the Lions, the Dolphins struggled to get going and lost wickets early, as all the Lions bowlers got in on the action.

The Dolphins soon slumped to 31/3, which became 77/6 and eventually 93/9 in the 16th over as the Lions spinners ruled the roost and wickets continued to tumble.

Captain and opener Morne van Wyk managed 36 runs and Jonathan Vandiar added 29, but otherwise there was precious little for Dolphins fans to smile about.

Coming in at No 8, Frylinck was able to match his performance with the ball with a superb unbeaten 63 off 27 balls as the Dolphins somehow managed to bat out their innings.

Frylinck was impressive in the final few overs, smashing boundary after boundary to lift the Dolphins score to something more respectable, but the carnage which had come before him meant his efforts still left his side 16 runs short of the mark on 148/9 at the end of the innings.