Lahore Lions crash out of CLT20

The Lahore Lions crashed out of the Champions League Twenty20 on the back of a disappointing three-wicket defeat at the hands of the Perth Scorchers – in Tuesday’s crucial Group A clash at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

The Lions slipped to a measly 11 for four before recovering to a final total of 124 for six, thanks largely to a standalone half-century from the talented Saad Nasim. The hard-hitting right-hander struck seven fours and a solitary six en route to 69 not out from just 55 deliveries.

Fast bowler Joel Paris proved the pick of the bowlers, snaring telling figures of three for 22, including the key dismissals of openers Umar Siddiq and Nasir Jamshed. Fellow seamer Mitchell Marsh, meanwhile, complemented with two for 12.

The Scorchers’ reply fell to early trouble – 27 for four and later 62 for seven. Marsh, however, rectified the pursuit with a commanding 63 not out. He and the veteran Brad Hogg added an unbroken 68 runs for the eighth wicket, ensuring triumph with a full six deliveries to spare.

The result removed the Pakistan and Australian outfit from semi-final contention. The Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings graduated from Group A, while the Kings XI Punjab and Hobart Hurricanes topped Group B.