Irfan, Haddin end Lahore's campaign

Dubai - A three-wicket haul from Mohammad Irfan and a brisk half-century from Brad Haddin set up Islamabad United's five-wicket win against Lahore Qalandars in Dubai. Lahore, who had to win at all costs to stay alive in the tournament, had the ignominy of finishing rock bottom in the table; Karachi Kings, despite losing earlier in the day, qualified to the playoffs at Lahore's expense.

Having watched Karachi Kings succumb to a five-wicket loss to Peshawar Zalmi earlier in the day, Lahore knew that qualification was in their own hands. However, the team made the worst possible start in doing that after they were inserted, losing three wickets inside three overs. At 6 for 3, Lahore seemed down and out, but Sohaib Maqsood and Umar Akmal counterattacked, stringing together a 97-run partnership off just 80 balls. Maqsood played the more steady foil, stroking 57 off 44 balls, while Akmal blasted a 49-ball 72 which featured five fours and three sixes. Their efforts lifted the team to 150 for 5. Irfan was the pick of the bowlers, ending with figures of 4-0-22-3.

Islamabad made a poor start of their own in reply, losing two quick wickets, but Haddin and Khalid Latif put the team back on track with a 69-run stand. Haddin was eventually run out for 54 off 42 balls, but he had already set the game up for his side. The captain Misbah-ul-Haq put the finishing touches, blasting a 19-ball 38 with seven fours to take Islamabad home in 19 overs. cricinfo