SHARJAH: Lahore Qalandars` hopes of reaching the 2017 HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoffs remained very much alive on Monday night after a nerveracl(ing one-wicket win over Islamabad United.

Lahore`s second victory against the reigning champions has suddenly infused great interest into the competition as none of the franchises is out of the reckoning as yet. The five teams will now move to Dubai for the remaining preliminary round fixtures from Thursday.

The sensational outcome in the last league game at the Sharjah CricketStadium is the first PSL match to result in a one-wicket victory margin as Lahore surged into the second spot, behind leaders Quetta Gladiators with dropping to third, followed by Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings.

The man to save the day for Lahore was the temperamental Pakistan right-hander Umar Akmal, who blazed his way to 66 from 42 balls, striking 50 of his runs in boundaries (eight fours and three sixes) before being deceived by a Shadab Khan googly.

It was then left to veteran Grant Elliott (26 off 17 balls) to see the Qalandars home in the last over by depositing Mohammad Sami for a six.

Lahore`s chase began on a tentative note as both Irfan and Sami rattled the openers with short-pitched deliveries. CameronDelport (12) was caught at point off a top edge after he hooked an Irfan delivery.

McCullum (11) never looked settled and was caught by his opposite number, Misbah, inside the 30-yard circle for another low score. And when Shadab removed Fakhar Zaman, Lahore were in tatters at 35-3.

Umar and Mohammad Rizwan stemme d the rot briefly until Shane Watson cleaned up the Pakistan wicket-keeper/batsman.

The sight of Mohammad Irfan, the 21-yearold right-arm speedster who was listed to bat at No 10, coming in at No 6 surprised everyone. But the move failed as Irfan was run out at the non-striker`s end without scoring. After being sent in to bat the 14th straight occurrence in the ongoing tournament Islamabad were heading nowhere when an inspirational PSL debut from pace-bowling all-rounder Aamir Yamin (3-17) was instrumental in reducing them to 83-6 in the 14th over.

Shadab showed his batting prowess with a career-best 42 off 24 balls (three sixes and two fours) as he and Amad Butt (17) added 53 in 32 balls, but 145-8 was never going to be enough.-Agencies