Lahore Lions qualify as Mumbai Indians crumble in Champions League T20

The Pakistan T20 champions emerged with the second qualifying spot for the CLT20 group rounds on Tuesday night, edging 2013 winners Mumbai Indians.

Pakistan’s Lahore Lions clawed their way past Sri Lanka’s Southern Express to qualify past Mumbai Indians on Tuesday night for the Champions League Twenty20 group stage.

Even with Mumbai heading into the evening at one win and one loss apiece but trailing on net run rate, Lahore survived to the group round with a 55-run win while New Zealand’s Northern Knights obliged on the other end with a six-wicket win over the Indian Premier Leaguers from Mumbai.

It was a shocking end to the qualifying round, which saw Mumbai, who were the 2013 CLT20 champions and finished fourth in last season’s IPL 7, lose matches to the poorer, more unfancied sides of New Zealand and Pakistan, securing their only win against an overmatched Southern Express side that lost all three of their games.

The Lions first beat the Indians on Saturday by six wickets, with a lineup featuring the likes of Ambati Rayudu, Mike Hussey, Lendl Simmons and Kieron Pollard mustering just 135 runs. Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal brought Lahore the bulk of that total in a comfortable response.

On Tuesday, Mohammad Hafeez went for 67, with support from Saad Nasim (31) and Shehzad (29). With 164, Lahore had more than enough to hold off Southern Express, top-scored by Jehan Mubarak (35) and all out after 18 overs.

Aizaz Cheema secured three wickets for just 15 runs, Wahab Riaz took two for 20 and Adnan Rasool claimed another two for 32. Hafeez and Imran Ali provided the other wickets to snuff out Express’ hopes of leaving the qualifying competition with any points.

In the final qualifying match, once again Mumbai’s vaunted batsmen were kept quiet, with Scott Styris’ three for 21 and Tim Southee’s three for 24 leading the way.

Pollard offered the biggest fight, with 31 runs off 24 balls before getting caught out by Daniel Harris from a Southee delivery. Only tailenders Shreyas Gopal (24) and the usually bat-shy Lasith Malinga (20) provided any help.

Hussy (7), Rayudu (6) and Aditya Tare (7) were held under 10 runs, while Simmons (13) and Jalal Saxena (10) were little better.

It took the New Zealanders just 17.2 overs to clear the 132-run hurdle, with Kane Williamson’s 53 their best mark. Anton Devcich chipped in 39.

The Knights topped the qualifying table, with three wins from three matches and a plus-2.080 net run rate, dominating their challengers who all finished with a negative run rate.

They’ll enter Group B with Kings XI Punjab (India), Hobart Hurricanes (Australia), Cape Cobras (South Africa) and Barbados Tridents (West Indies).

Lahore, meanwhile, will join Group A’s Kolkata Knight Riders (India), Chennai Super Kings (India), Perth Scorchers (Australia) and Dolphins (South Africa).

The Lions will begin group play against Kolkata on Sunday in a match that will surely be much-ancitipated, pitting the IPL 7 winners against the Pakistani Twenty20 champions.

Northern Knights, meanwhile, start against Cobras on Friday.

The tournament, being held throughout India, kicks off group play on Wednesday night.

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