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Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer remained confident that Thomas Muller will extend his contract amid rumours of joining Manchester United.

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Bayern confident Muller will extend stayIn talks with the player over a one-year extensionLinked with a move to Manchester UnitedWHAT HAPPENED?

The veteran attacker's current contract expires in June 2024 but Bayern Munich chief Herbert Hainer claimed that the club are in touch with the player and are confident that he will extend his stay by one more year despite the player being linked with a move to Manchester United.

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Speaking to , Hainer said, "Thomas knows exactly what he has at FC Bayern, and we know what we have in Thomas. I can also imagine that things can happen relatively quickly.

"Thomas is an absolutely deserving player. We all want Thomas to end his career at Bayern Munich. We are in talks with him and I really hope that Thomas Müller stays with us."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Other than being linked to the Red Devils, former World Cup-winning Germany captain Lothar Matthaus recently advised the 34-year-old that he should consider making a move out of the club if he wants to play more regularly.

He further suggested that Muller could consider moving to the MLS where he could unite with former Champions League rival Lionel Messi.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR THOMAS MULLER?

The Germany international has seen his game time reduced since Harry Kane moved to the club this summer. He has appeared in 15 matches for the club across all competitions, clocking just 575 minutes on the pitch and has scored twice and provided five assists.

He could be next seen in action on December 9 when his club face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds has sent out a transfer message after seeing the city move to the top of another table.

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Wrexham becomes UK's busiest rental locationInterest in city has surged since takeoverReynolds and McElhenney having big impactWHAT HAPPENED?

Reynolds has taken to social media after seeing Wrexham surge to the top of the UK’s home rentals league. Interest in the city has boomed since the takeover of the football club by Reynolds and McElhenney in 2021. The news has not gone unnoticed by Reynolds either. He has posted a copy of the report showing Wrexham leading the way in the UK rentals market on social media along with the message: "If you happen to be in a transfer window."

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Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson may be hoping more players can be tempted to the city in the January transfer window to boost his team's chances of promotion. The Red Dragons currently side third in the table after 21 games played, six point behind leaders Stockport but with a game in hand. Parkinson has already complained about the injuries his team have suffered this season, with Wrexham being tipped to spend again in January.

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Reynolds and McElhenney bought Wrexham in 2021 after making a £2 million investment in the club. The value of the club has since risen by over 300% following the duo's acquisition, according to research from investment platform Saxo.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM

Wrexham still have three games to play before the January transfer window opens. Parkinson's team host Newport County next before a trip to Swindon on Boxing Day. The Red Dragons then sign off 2023 away at Walsall on December 29.

A round-up of the fourth day’s play of Group A’s fourth round matches from the Ranji Trophy

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2013
ScorecardOdisha romped to a nine-wicket win by restricting Jharkhand to 194 in the second innings and chasing 109 with ease on the fourth day in Cuttack. Odisha medium-pacer Alok Chandra Sahoo took all four Jharkhand wickets in the morning and Odisha were helped by an unbeaten fifty from opener Girjia Rout during the chase.Jharkhand started the day at 149 for 6 but Sahoo struck on the second ball of the day, dismissing Bhavik Thaker for 9. Six overs later, Sahoo sent a well-set Pappu Singh back to the pavilion for 61. Shahbaz Nadeem and Shankar Rao resisted with scores of 20 and 10 but both fell soon, giving Sahoo figures of 4 for 42.Odisha were hardly bothered in their chase as only one wicket fell, when Varun Aaron had Vikas Pati caught for 11. Rout scored a brisk 67 and along with Niranjan Behera (27), took them home in 30 overs.
ScorecardA spirited 72-run ninth-wicket stand between debutant Abrar Kazi and KP Appanna took Karnataka past Vidarbha’s total in fading light and earned them three vital points for the first-innings lead. At 477 for 8 at one stage, Karnataka had appeared to fritter away the advantage their top order had given them, but Kazi and Appanna defended solidly first, then opened up towards the end to scamper towards Vidarbha’s total. Two sixes, one by Kazi and the next one by Appanna, took the team ahead of Vidarbha.The innings was, however, built by a solid KL Rahul, who shared important stands with Manish Pandey and Ganesh Satish. He scored 158 – his second first-class ton, both of which have come against Vidarbha – before playing a loose shot against an incoming Umesh Yadav delivery to be bowled. Umesh added another wicket to his tally, while offspinner Akshay Wakhare struck twice to reduce Karnataka from 474 for 5 to 477 for 8, before the ninth-wicket pair turned it in favour of Karnataka.
ScorecardGujarat, after a poor showing with the bat all through the game, finished on a high against Punjab in Mohali. They had begun the day on 33 for 3, after managing only 127 in the first innings, but now Samit Gohel and Rujul Bhatt took charge. The pair batted through the day, both getting to centuries – it was Gohel’s maiden first-class ton – and added 210 runs in partnership. Play was called off, with the match ending in a draw, soon after they completed their hundreds.While Punjab gained three points for the first-innings lead, Gujarat are still the table-toppers in Group A, four rounds into the league phase. They have 14 points from four games, while Punjab, with a game in hand, are at No. 3 with 10 points.
ScorecardThe Delhi team management’s decision to play on a result-oriented Roshnara track was vindicated as they got their first six points of the season with a 105-run victory over Haryana. Chasing a stiff target of 376, Haryana were bowled out for 270 in 70 overs with the match ending exactly nine overs into the post lunch session. It was a much-needed win for Delhi, who now have nine points from four matches.Ishant Sharma’s return to first-class grind proved to be a fruitful one as he got 4 for 76 in the second innings to end with a match-haul of 9 for 105 in 37 overs. Debutant left-arm spinner Varun Sood also did his case no harm with second-innings figures of 4 for 49 from 15 overs.Read the full report here.

Rob Newton scored his second century of the match as Northamptonshire rescued a draw on the final day against the Division Two leaders

24-Aug-2012
ScorecardRob Newton scored his second century of the match as Northamptonshire rescued a draw on the final day of their Championship match against Division Two leaders Derbyshire.Derbyshire’s captain Wayne Madsen and wicketkeeper Tom Poynton fell 22 runs short of setting a new world-record ninth-wicket partnership as the visitors were finally bowled out for a massive 569. Their 261-run association was the third highest ninth-wicket stand in the history of first-class cricket and Madsen eventually finished unbeaten on 231 from 400 balls.Newton then blasted a career-best 119 not out to help the hosts recover from 37 for 4 before the two captains shook hands.Derbyshire began the day on 512 for 8, 112 runs ahead of their opponents, with Madsen resuming on 223 and Poynton on 105. Their partnership stood at 259, meaning that they needed another 25 runs to break Derbyshire pair Arnold Warren and John Chapman’s ninth-wicket record of 283 set back in 1910 against Warwickshire at Blackwell.However, Poynton was to add just a single before Jack Brooks sent his off stump tumbling with the eighth ball of the day to break a mammoth stand. The final wicket fell when Tim Groenewald launched Lee Daggett to Alex Wakely at long-off after hammering 42 from 35 deliveries.Trailing by 169, Northants’ second innings got off to an awful start when Kyle Coetzer edged Groenewald to Poynton in the 10th over. Wakely then made just a single before he was superbly taken by Usman Khawaja’s one-handed catch at short midwicket off the bowling of Tony Palladino.Ireland international Niall O’Brien was then trapped lbw by David Wainwright before Northants captain Andrew Hall walked when he was taken by Poynton off Palladino with the last ball before lunch.Northants resumed in the afternoon in deep trouble but the fifth-wicket pair of Newton and David Sales stemmed the tide as they added 175. Newton comfortably reached 50 off 84 balls but he was given a reprieve on 91 when he was dropped at long leg by Matt Lineker off Groenewald.He then completed his ton off 130 deliveries to become the 11th Northants batsman to score a century in both innings of a match, and the first since Chris Rogers at Taunton in 2006. David Sales then went past 50 off a patient 151 balls before the two sides agreed enough was enough and settled for the draw.

Elton Chigumbura scored an unbeaten ton to revive the Eagles after they lost five wickets for four runs before coming back to snap up 3 for 27 as Mashonaland Eagles won the Pro50 final

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Feb-2012
ScorecardElton Chigumbura had a top day with bat and ball•AFPElton Chigumbura scored an unbeaten ton to revive the Eagles after they lost five wickets for four runs – four of them on the score of 34 – before coming back to snap up 3 for 27 with the ball to stall Mid West Rhinos’ chase of 221. Chigumbura’s all-round brilliance sealed a 63-run win, giving Mashonaland Eagles the Coca-Cola Pro50 title as Rhinos fell short by 63 runs.The Rhinos’ decision to field was vindicated early as the Eagles came unstuck following a 31-run opening stand. Ed Rainsford and Michael Chinouya ripped through the top five in a manic passage of play as Eagles slipped to 34 for 5. Chigumbura picked up the pieces through a 58-run stand with Regis Chakabva, who fell to Graeme Cremer in the 25th over. Nathan Waller slogged 26 off 24 balls, as the Eagles resigned themselves to quick runs before getting bowled out. Ray Price exited soon after, and the Eagles were staring at an early end to their innings at 129 for 8 in the 32nd over.However, Innocent Chinyoka provided just the sort of stubborn resistance that Chigumbura needed to swell the total. Chinyoka occuped the crease for 78 minutes, facing 57 balls for an invaluable, unbeaten 26. Chigumbura took care of the scoring business at the other end, and surged past his century. The stand was worth an unbroken 91 in 18.1 overs, and pushed the Eagles to a respectable 220 for 8.Chinyoka was back to torment the Rhinos with the new ball, offering able support to Tatenda Manatsa (2 for 31) as the top three perished for a combined contribution of 10 runs. Thereafter Chigumbura took over, slicing through the middle order with a three-wicket burst that left the Rhinos gasping at 60 for 7. Cremer and Rainsford sparked a lower-order resistance, but there wasn’t enough room for another twist in the tale.

Andrew Strauss, the England Test captain, believes the challenge of staying at No. 1 in the world will be the toughest task yet for his side

Andrew McGlashan24-Nov-2011Andrew Strauss, the England Test captain, has said the challenge of staying at No. 1 in the ICC Test rankings will be the toughest task yet for his side. After a rare two-month break – and a longer lay-off for Strauss who hasn’t played since September – England return to action against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in January well aware that they are now the team everyone is trying to catch.When Pat Cummins pulled the winning boundary against South Africa at the Wanderers, not only did it complete one of the most memorable debuts in Test history but it also meant that England could not be overtaken at the top of the rankings before they take the field again. If South Africa had won all their home Tests – the two against Australia and three against Sri Lanka – they would have leapfrogged England. However, despite being guaranteed top spot into 2012 there will be no basking in reflected glory when England arrive in Dubai.”We all recognise that the next 12-18 months will be the biggest challenge we’ve had as a group,” Strauss said. “It’s a very different mindset being the hunted rather than the hunters and we are going have to retain that desperate desire to improve. It’s an exciting time for us, but we don’t underestimate the size of the challenge. There are a lot of teams that want to knock us off our perch.”Since Australia held the top ranking it has become a more fluid title. South Africa only managed five months in the position, having overtaken Australia in August 2009, before losing their title to India in December of that year. India remained No. 1 for 20 months until they lost to England at Edgbaston in August 2011.Strauss, who now only plays Test cricket, will increase his own preparations for the Pakistan series when he flies out to India with the England performance programme squad for a training camp in Pune and Mumbai.He will be joined by Matt Prior and Eoin Morgan, who had shoulder surgery towards the end of the English season, while a number of key pace bowlers are heading to South Africa. England then have two warm-up matches in Dubai before the first Test on January 17.”I can’t wait for the training camp,” Strauss said. “It will be a fantastic way to prepare for the rest of the winter. It’s important we hit the ground running in Dubai and the more preparation we can do prior to getting there the better.”England’s rise to No. 1 has helped make them a very attractive commercial product, which will have played a key part in the 10-year sponsorship deal with Investec for home Test matches that was announced at Lord’s on Wednesday. They will not want to see their prime investment slip from the top any time soon.

Is there a cleaner striker of a ball in English cricket than Craig Kieswetter? Those who watched him make 112 not out on the second day of the England Lions game against Australia A at Edgbaston might find it hard to believe so.

Paul Edwards at Edgbaston16-Aug-2012
ScorecardCraig Kieswetter, seen here in his Somerset colours, brightened up the day with a marvellous century to rescue England Lions•PA PhotosIs there a cleaner striker of a ball in English cricket than Craig Kieswetter? Those who watched him make 112 not out on the second day of the England Lions game against Australia A at Edgbaston might find it hard to believe so. Others, of course, might advance the claims of Matt Prior, but that is merely where Kieswetter’s problems start if he wants to break into the Test side. Prior’s keeping and his ability to bat in the longest format make him something of a mighty oak door barring Kieswetter’s way into the dining-room where the world’s best cricketers enjoy five-day feasts.In the meantime, all he can do is bat in the gloriously dominant style he displayed to the pathetically small Birmingham crowd on Thursday afternoon. In company with the redoubtable Chris Woakes he shared an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 141 in 23 overs as Eoin Morgan’s side recovered from 99 for 5 at four o’clock to finish just 68 runs shy of Australia A’s first innings score when bad light ended play over an hour early. Indeed, rain and poor light meant that only 57 overs were possible on Thursday but the quality of the cricket on view made the reduction seem almost insignificant.The excellence of Kieswetter’s century was enhanced by the quality of the bowlers whom he ultimately took apart and by the situation of the game when he went in to bat. Replying to Australia’s declaration on their overnight 308 for 9, England Lions were 46 for 3 as Kieswetter strode out to join Morgan. When the captain lost his off bail to Nathan Coulter-Nile seven runs later the home side were imperilled by embarrassment, even in a badly rain-affected game.For the morning session was dominated by the tourists, although it comes as almost a disappointment to discover that Coulter-Nile is merely a Western Australian seamer. He sounds like the sort of character who wrestles tigers for a living and writes books with titles such as Twenty Years Down the Limpopo. In any event, he certainly explored the defensive techniques of some Lions yesterday morning and found them in distinctly under-developed territory. Of no one was this truer than Morgan, whose airy push into the off side was well beaten by Coulter-Nile’s nip back off the seam.he had also begun the clatter of wickets when he induced debutant Varun Chopra to top edge a pull to square leg, where Liam Davis caught the simplest of catches. The only player to bat with much poise in the first session was Joe Root, who hit three felicitous fours before he was caught down the leg side for 24 by wicketkeeper Tim Paine off Mitchell Johnson. That, though, was the second time in three innings that Root has fallen to Johnson in this fashion and it suggests a technical deficiency he must address if he is to make the most of his many talents.Root’s departure with the total on 30 was followed 25 minutes later by that of Samit Patel who was lbw for 2 when pushing half forward to Jackson Bird. All of which left the Lions’ looking distinctly woebegone at lunch. It was probably fortuitous for the home side that heavy lunchtime rain delayed the restart by 80 minutes.Initially, at least, Kieswetter was cautious as the three Australia A seamers continued to pose a threat in the afternoon session. His 46-run stand with Ben Stokes occupied nearly 17 overs, during which Stokes nearly ran himself out and the tourists made increasingly expert use of reverse swing. This latter stratagem was unintentionally kyboshed by Kieswetter straight driving a ball from offspinner Nathan Lyon into a puddle over the rope. The replacement ball did not help the trio of seamers half as much, even though Bird claimed Stokes’ wicket when he was caught at the wicket pulling too early.The rest of the day belonged to Kieswetter and also to Woakes, who once again made a valuable contribution to this short series. By the close, though, even his stylish 47 not out had been overshadowed by the Kieswetter’s explosion of strokeplay after he had reached a relatively circumspect fifty off 80 balls. Unbeaten on 71 at tea, Kieswetter drove Bird for two fours and smote him over midwicket for six in the over after the resumption, all off the front foot. Then Coulter-Nile was driven for two boundaries off successive balls, before a flat-batted pull off Bird brought up Kieswetter’s century off 116 balls, the second fifty coming up in 36 alarmingly violent deliveries.The Australian attack’s figures, which had looked so impressive at lunch, had taken on a more dismal aspect by the end of the day. Coulter-Nile’s 19 overs cost 70 runs while Bird went for 65 in 16. Special treatment was reserved for Lyon on whom the pair of England Lions feasted, taking 47 runs off his eight overs. Some might label such behaviour nothing more than cricketing cannibalism, but it was still magnificent entertainment.

Steven Finn, Chris Tremlett and Boyd Rankin will have to make their case for England’s third pace-bowling slot in the practice games before the Ashes Tests, according to captain Alastair Cook

Daniel Brettig26-Oct-2013England’s jetlagged batsmen and a handful of second-tier West Australians will spend the next week hopping around in the WACA ground nets and the middle after the touring captain Alastair Cook foreshadowed a willing battle between Steven Finn, Chris Tremlett and Boyd Rankin for his side’s final Ashes bowling spot.With Tim Bresnan in the latter stages of his recovery from a back injury that is unlikely to allow him to be considered for the first Test, Finn, Tremlett and the former Irishman Rankin will have the bounciest practice and playing surfaces in the country on which to state their cases. Each must try to sway Cook, the coach Andy Flower and bowling mentor David Saker into a decision on who will share pace duties with James Anderson and Stuart Broad.Following England’s first training session of the trip, Cook said his side’s plans to make the most of the bounce on offer in Australia had been conveyed clearly enough by the selection of the tour party, but it was now up to the bowlers chosen to press their cases. Apart from their height in common, Finn, Tremlett and Rankin all have slightly differing stories and attributes: temperament and stamina will be under scrutiny in addition to bowling skill.”It’s quite clear to see that Jimmy and Broady have done enough over their fantastic careers to be first-choice bowlers,” Cook said in Perth. “We tend to play three quicks and a spinner, so there is one space up for grabs. It’s pretty clear for everyone to know that and people have to stick their hand up for selection. If they do really well in these couple of warm-up games in the opportunities they get they’re going to put their name ahead.”Finn and Tremlett were each part of England’s triumphant 2010-11 tour, part of a pace attack that improved with every Test match despite Anderson being the only constant throughout the series. Having begun the tour as the third seamer, Finn was dropped after Perth as his wickets were deemed to have come at too great a cost. Tremlett, in contrast, graduated from a reserve berth to part of the quick-bowling triumvirate in mid-series, and by its end was arguably England’s most threatening bowler.Gurney second left-armer called up

England have announced that Harry Gurney, the Nottinghamshire left-arm seamer, will be the second player outside the Ashes squad to join them in Perth to aid preparations for the Test series following Tymal Mills call-up.

Gurney, who has not represented England at any level, took 44 wickets at 30.31 in the County Championship during the 2013 season.

“We don’t have any left-armers in the squad and there’s a possibility we’re going to face a couple of left-armers in the Ashes series,’ Alastair Cook said. “You can do as much replication of it with throw-downs and bowling machines but [you want] the real thing of bowling left-arm and getting your angles right.

“That’s the reason they’ve come over here, it’s great practice and experience for them but they’re very much there to bowl at us.”

Rankin is the lesser known entity of the three, having switched allegiance from Ireland to England in order to pursue Test ambitions. He has turned plenty of heads on limited-overs duty for his adopted country, but must now show he has the ability to sustain his hostility and accuracy over the longer spells Cook will demand of him in the Tests.”We think pace and bounce will be quite crucial on Australian wickets. I think that’s quite common. Very, very skillful shorter bowlers can have success but, in general, pace and bounce is quite key,” Cook said. “[Rankin] gives us that option, he obviously hasn’t played a Test match or been around the Test match environment before, so interesting to see how he goes, but I think the next four days might be quite interesting with him, Finny and Broady all bowling.”England’s preparation will closely mirror that of three summers ago, the one change being that their tour matches against WA and New South Wales teams will be head-to-head with rounds of the Sheffield Shield, thus weakening their opposition. Cook said his men would take what they could from the success of the previous trip without resorting to facsimile.”It’s very similar to what we did last time in 2010,” he said. “That should give you enough time in the middle and some miles in your legs for the bowlers. We’ve got a long build-up for it and I think you need that for such an important tour.”I think we’d be foolish not to look back on what we did on that tour and what we did very well. But you’ve got to remember this is a different side now. Things have evolved. We’ve got different players, different personnel as well. We can look at the right things we did there and try to replicate them but we can’t just copy it outright, because our side is different.”

Northamptonshire weren’t touted as promotion contenders but few counties have started 2013 better. Rain denied them victory at Glamorgan last week and here the vaunted Essex batting line-up were dismissed for 183.

Tim Wigmore at Wantage Road17-Apr-2013
ScorecardSteven Crook continued his excellent start to the season•Getty ImagesNorthamptonshire weren’t touted as potential Division Two promotion contenders but few counties have started 2013 better. Only rain denied them victory after bowling Glamorgan out for 134 last week and here the vaunted Essex batting line-up were dismissed for 183.The shoddy shot selection of Essex’s top order was partially to blame for their fate but significant credit must go to Northants’ seamers. Steven Crook was outstanding, claiming Mark Pettini caught at second slip to a ball that reared up and then James Foster clean bowled to a delivery that moved late in the same over on the stroke of lunch. Ravi Bopara was utterly becalmed by Crook’s unrelenting line in his 31-ball 6 and edged behind just three balls after being dropped at second slip to another tentative forward prod. Since returning to Northants, Crook has now taken nine Championship wickets at under ten apiece.Crook’s career path may have been unconventional – he briefly retired from cricket a few years ago – but his bowling success, based on a strong, repeatable action and a consistent line just outside off stump, is certainly not.Northants have quietly assembled a formidable seam attack at Wantage Road. Australian Trent Copeland bowls a consistently threatening off stump line, which accounted for the stylish Tom Westley; David Willey showed the priceless left-armer’s virtue of swinging the ball back from around the wicket; and Andrew Hall’s relentless wicket-to-wicket bowling trapped Essex’s overseas player Rob Quiney lbw. Together, they easily vindicated Stephen Peters’ decision to bowl after winning the toss.Peters would have been particularly thrilled that three bowling changers yielded wickets within two balls. As Crook later said, “We’ve bowled well as a unit and we’ve got some variation in our attack – we’re not all doing the same thing.”That Essex even mustered 183 was the result of Graham Napier’s belligerent unbeaten 73. With Essex in disarray at 138 for 9, Napier responded as is his wont, thrashing five sixes in ten balls. A couple were harrumphed over long-on, and there were a trio of upper cuts for six as Napier sagaciously targeted the short third man boundary. It’s not often that a bowler can feel frustrated with figures of 4 for 39, but that was Crook’s fate after Napier plundered him for 22 in an over.Napier, who said he had never played in windier conditions, was almost as impressive with the ball, bustling in with considerable pace to take 3 for 30. Indeed, had substitute Tom Craddock taken Rob Newton – who has batted pleasingly for his unbeaten 35 – just before the close, Essex might even be dreaming of a first innings advantage.But Napier and Reece Topley might have benefited from a little more support. While Topley was impressive, fellow left-armer Tymal Mills bowled too many short deliveries on leg stump. Maurice Chambers was also inconsistent, going for 27 in five overs, and was a little fortunate to dismiss Alex Wakely, caught at square leg of a lackadaisical flick. But he was also unlucky not to get another wicket: he got a ball to rear up to Rob Newton’s glove, and it bounced onto off stump without dislodging the bail. As wags immediately remarked, it was a case of Newton defying gravity.Fifteen dismissals in the day might suggest this was a pitch with excessive zest but, although good bowlers can find seam movement and bounce, it is an excellent cricket wicket. Indeed, if there is a problem with the conditions it is with the wind. Napier avoided blaming the wicket for Essex’s first innings total, saying only “it’s a strange pitch – when it’s done something it’s done a lot”.That the wicket rewards good batsmanship was highlighted by Stephen Peters, who played the late-cut deliciously in his 60. It is often remarked that Peters hasn’t enjoyed the career expected after scoring a match-winning hundred in the Under-19 World Cup Final in 1998 but he remains one of the most aesthetically pleasing batsmen on the county circuit.

Mohammad Hafeez’s economical and incisive spell bowled Lahore Lions to a comprehensive victory against Faisalabad Wolves in the final of the Faysal Bank T-20

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMohammad Hafeez’s economical and incisive spell bowled Lahore Lions to a comprehensive victory against Faisalabad Wolves in the final of the Faysal Bank T-20, and potentially secured them a place in the Champions League T20 next year.Chasing a target of 155, Faisalabad had reached 30 for 1 in the fourth over when the slide began. Asif Ali was first run out, and then Hafeez nipped out three wickets in successive overs to reduce Faisalabad to 56 for 5. The collpase did not cease and Hafeez returned to dismiss Imran Khalid to pick up his fourth wicket. He finished with 4 for 11, and Abdul Razzaq claimed 2 for 19, as Faisalabad were restricted to 121 for 8 in 20 overs.Lahore’s innings had been set up by a fiery start from their openers after they chose to bat. Ahmed Shehzad scored 29 off 18 balls and was first out with the score on 44 in 4.2 overs. Nasir Jamshed carried on, making 42 off 28 balls to lay the platform for a formidable score. The middle-order batsmen, however, could not sustain the momentum and Nos. 3 to 5 got starts but scored at only a run a ball. Lahore had to settle for 154 for 7, but it proved to be 33 too many for Faisalabad.The final was watched by a crowd of 20,000 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, with several thousands outside the venue without tickets.