We must finish matches: Fakhar

DUBAI: When Fakhar Zaman was one run away from his fifty, he knew Lahore Qalandars were in with a good chance to chase down a stiff 180-run victory target against Multan Sultans on Friday night.

But his dismissal courtesy a stunning catch by Ahmed Shehzad triggered an unbelievable collapse as Lahore lost their last seven wickets for just fours and lost the game by 43 runs at the Dubai International Stadium.

The big-hitting opener said that his team will have to learn to finish matches if they are to go all the way in PSL 3.

“It was disappointing to lose the match after starting off very well,” said Fakhar, Lahore’s vice captain.

“Anything can happen in cricket; collapses are part of the game. The score wasn’t difficult on this wicket,” he told reporters after the game.

“I tried to stay on the wicket. But the openers’ job is to provide a start, [while] finishing the match is the job of the middle order,” the left-hander said.

“I am a top-order batsman and I don’t see myself in the role of a ‘match-finisher’, but I will definitely try to play [for a much longer time],” he added.

“It is a must for us to finish the match. All great players are known for finishing the matches. I tried today but couldn’t.“I was playing according to the role tasked to me by my captain and the coach.”