Razzaq sizzles in Hyderabad Heroes' victory

GURGAON: After three matches of inconsequential outings with the bat, Hyderabad Heroes all-rounder Abdul Razzaq (66 of 61 balls) came good against Chandigarh Lions at the ICL 20-20 Indian Championships, at the Tau Devi Lal stadium, in Gurgaon on Sunday.
The leading wicket-taker this season, Razzaq along with his opening partner Jimmy Maher (48 out off 41 balls) put on 123 for the first wicket to help hunt down the modest total of 141, losing only one wicket.
In the process, they upset the continuity of the Lions who had won both of their earlier matches.
But the Lions have only themselves to blame for the defeat. From a position of 55 runs from six overs, they frittered away the advantage. They even had their chances of making early inroads into the Heroes line-up but they messed up a catch of Abdul Razzaq at square-leg. Some of Chris Cairns' - the skipper of Lions - tactics were baffling too, especially the way he handled his best bowler Andrew Hall.
After Hall started off with a fine over first up, he was removed from the attack in the very next over. He was brought back in the last half of the match but by then Hyderabad had almost settled the issue. Lions' most economical bowler of the tournament, Daryl Tuffey was not so miserly, giving away 25 runs off his three overs.
Brief score:
Chandigarh Lions 141/6 (Dinesh Mongia 38; IS Reddy 2/14, Nicky Boje 2/21) lost to Hyderabad Heroes 145/1 (James Maher 48 n.o., Abdul Razzaq 66) by 9 wickets.