Qalandars edge Multan Sultans by 1 run to win PSL final,
Lahore _Qalandars have made history by clinching the second PSL-2023 championship in a row in a groovy fashion. This victory was a testament to their exceptional cricketing skills and quirky style, which set them apart from the other teams in the tournament.
Playing first, Qalandars set 201 runs target for Multan Sultans in the final of Pakistan Super League 2023 final at Gaddafi Stadium.
Young pacer Zaman Khan held his nerves calm to defend 13 runs in the final over to power Lahore Qalandars to the second consecutive PSL title after skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi’s all-round brilliance against Multan Sultans, ARY News reported on Saturday.
Set to chase 201, the Sultans fell just one run short of glory as the visitors could accumulate 199/8 in their quota of 20 overs despite Rilee Rossouw’s half-century.
Opting to bat first in the final, the defending champions managed to put on a massive total to defend at the back of a brilliant fifty by Abdullah Shafique and Shaheen Shah’s brisk 44.
Openers Fakhar Zaman and Tahir Baig started off cautiously for the Qalandars as the pair could raise 38 before Ihsanullah dismissed the latter on the last delivery of the fifth over to draw the first success for the Sultans.
Baig scored a quick 30 in just 18 deliveries, hitting five boundaries and a six.
Fakhar then joined hands with Abdullah and the duo added 57 runs for the second wicket but remained a touch slow in the process as they conceded 38 deliveries before Fakhar fell victim to Usama Mir.
The left-handed opener remained the notable run-getter for the Qalandars with 39 off 34.
Sam Billings (9) then put on a brief partnership with Abdullah and could add just 16 runs before Sultans’ spinners Usama and Khushdil Shah changed the dimension of the game.
Sultans’ spin duo struck thrice in four deliveries; removing Billings (9), Ahsan Hafeez (0) and Sikandar Raza (1) and bolstered their side to halt the Qalandars to 115/5 in 15 overs.
Following the slump, Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen stood up for his team by once again promoting himself in the batting order and counter-attacked with belligerent hitting.
Shaheen stitched a match-defining 66-run partnership with Abdullah for the sixth wicket before the latter finally perished in the 19th over after playing a sensible knock.
Abdullah top scored for the Qalandars with 65 in 40 deliveries, laced up with 10 boundaries including two sixes.
On the other hand, Shaheen continued his domination over clueless Sultans’ bowlers and took his side to amass the 200-run mark by hitting a six on the final delivery of the innings.
He remained unbeaten with his 15-ball 44 which featured two boundaries and five sixes.
Usama led the bowling attack for the Sultans with 3/24 while Ihsanullah, Khushdil and Anwar Ali could pick up a wicket apiece.
