SHARJAH: Lahore Qalandars defeated Islamabad United by one wicket in the 14th match of Pakistan Super League at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday. Umar Akmal received the Man of the Match award for his outstanding inning. Akmal scored 66 runs off 42 balls with 157.14 strike rate. Lahore Qalandars chased a target of 146 runs for the loss of nine wickets on the second ball of the 19th over. The United's player Shadab Khan also played splendid inning. Khan scored 42 runs and took two wickets in the match. Islamabad Target: Some late charge by talented Pall-rounder Shadab Khan helped Islamabad United post 145/8 in their match against Lahore Qalandars. Shadab struck three 6s and two 4s in his 42 off 26 balls as Islamabad finished their inning on 145/8 in 20 overs. Earlier, Lahore Qalandars won the toss and opted to field against first Islamabad United in the 14th Twenty20 match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). For Lahore, Aamer Yamir bagged three wickets giving away only 17 runs in his quota of four overs. Yasir Shah also got two wickets. Brendon McCullum's Lahore has been the most inconsistent side having not been able to stitch two consecutive wins so far. Their batting unit, which was bowled out for 59 by Peshawar Zalmi on 12 February, posted 200 on Thursday against Quetta Gladiators but on both occasions the team ended up on the losing side.

18.5 SIX! Mohammad Irfan to Shadab Khan watch https://t.co/7VLpZp1jmg#LQvIU #HBLPSL #AbKhelJamayGa pic.twitter.com/EkAmhADA0t

— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) February 20, 2017

England opener Jason Roy has been in good form for Lahore scoring two half-centuries in the five matches they have played but the rest of the batting unit has been unpredictable. Skipper McCullum's poor form with the bat has hurt the team the most as the former New Zealand captain has not scored a run in their last three games, including two no-scores. However, Lahore will be heading into today's game on a positive note as they have already beaten Islamabad in their early-season match. They will be better served if McCullum bats higher-up the order and leads from the front with the bat. On the other hand, the defending champions are bidding to win back-to-back matches after their solid five-wicket win against Peshwar Zalmi on Saturday. Dwayne Smith has been in good form for Islamabad at the top and he scored his second half-century of the season to help his team gun down a 137-run target. While Sam Billings and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq himself along with Smith are performing consistently, the team would want more from their wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin, who has had four single-digit scores after his match-winning 73 in the season opener. With their in-form bowlers Mohammad Sami, Ruman Raees and Shadab Khan, Misbah's men are well-placed to skittle the inconsistent Lahore line-up and successfully avenge their early-season defeat. Lahore: Fakhar Zaman, B McCullum (c), CS Delport, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan(wk), Grant Elliott, S Narine, Aamer Yamin Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Irfan Jr., Yasir Shah Islamabad: DR Smith, Rafatullah Mohmand, BJ Haddin (wk), B Duckett, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), S Watson, Amad Butt, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Irfan, Rumman Raees