In a nerve-wracking Pakistan Super League final, Lahore Qalandars defeated Multan Sultans by one run at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to become the first team to successfully defend their title and take home the trophy on Saturday.
Chasing a tough target of 201 runs, Sultan came very close to achieving the target but fell short by one run.
GREATEST. FINAL. EVER.@lahoreqalandars become the first team to successfully defend their HBLPSL title 🏆#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #MSvLQ pic.twitter.com/hskDWqKZRr
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2023
Qalandars have become the first team to successfully defend the PSL title.
Chasing runs, David Wiese provided the breakthrough in the fourth over of the innings after dismissing opener Usman Khan. The right-handed batsman scored 18 runs in 12 balls.
Despite the early loss, Multan made sure they kept up with the required run-rate as Riley Russo and Mohammad Rizwan put on a brilliant partnership of 64 off 42 balls.
However, Russo was cleaned up by Rashid Khan after the batsman threatened to take the game away from the Qalandars. South Africa scored 52 runs off 32 balls.
🐍#sochnabemanahai #HBLPSL8 #QalandarHum #QalandarsCity #LQvMS pic.twitter.com/oMuPp7WZli
— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) March 18, 2023
Rashid struck again in his final over when Rizwan, 23 off 34, perished trying to clear the long-on boundary. It featured a brilliant piece of fielding by David Wiese who caught the ball, kept his balance, and then stepped on the rope before repositioning himself inside the boundary to complete the catch. What did you do?
Shaheen, who conceded 34 runs in his first two overs, returned in his second spell and took the wicket of the dangerous Kieron Pollard. The Windies all-rounder scored 19 runs off 16 balls.
Safe hands 👏
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2023
In @FakharZamanLive, @lahoreqalandars trust 🙌#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #MSvLQ pic.twitter.com/NCKg5AYaUG
Shaheen also took three wickets in his last over to put his team in a strong position to win the match.
However, Haris Rauf scored 22 runs in the last over to ensure a thrilling end to the match.
But Zaman Khan held his nerve to get his team over the line in the last over of the match.
Earlier, the Qalandars scored 200-6 in the allotted 20 overs.
After a fast start, while Qalandars scored 34 runs in the first three overs, opener Tahir Baig was dismissed by Ehsanullah on a fast short ball. The right-handed batsman scored 30 runs in 18 balls.
The wicket, coupled with some good bowling, helped the Sultans stem the flow of runs as Lahore reached 82-1 at the halfway mark.
Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafiq added 57 runs in 38 balls for the second wicket but when they decided to increase the scoring rate, Multan scuppered the batting side’s plans with four quick wickets.
Leg-spinner Usama Mir took three wickets in his first two overs, including scalps from Zaman (39), Sam Billings (9) and Ahsan Hafeez (0).
SPINNERS DOMINATION! 🌪️#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #MSvLQ pic.twitter.com/pJy4dOxvBY
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2023
Meanwhile, Khushdal Shah cleaned out Sikandar Raza (1) with a ball that slipped and hit the batsman’s stumps.
With Lahore struggling, skipper Shaheen took to the field and took the attack to the Multan bowlers with some sensational shot-making. He remained unbeaten on 44 off 15 balls which included two fours and five maximums.
Meanwhile, Khushdal Shah cleaned out Sikandar Raza (1) with a ball that slipped and hit the batsman’s stumps.
With Qalandar’s struggling, skipper Shaheen stepped in and took the attack to Multan’s bowlers with some sensational shot-making. He remained unbeaten on 44 off 15 balls which included two fours and five maximums.
Be Afridi, Be very Afridi 🦅#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #MSvLQ pic.twitter.com/PMyTVi9nmc
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2023
Shafiq also accelerated towards the back end of the innings and was dismissed for 65 off 40 balls. He hit eight fours and two sixes.
Osama Mir was one of the bowlers for Sultans with figures of 3-24 in three overs.
Sultans defeated Qalandars in the qualifiers to make it to the finals. While Lahore defeated Peshawar Zalmi and qualified for the championship match.
Playing XI
Multan Sultans: Usman Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Riley Russo, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Sheldon Cottrell and Ehsanullah.
Lahore Qalandars: Mirza Tahir Baig, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafiq, Sam Billings (wicket), Ahsan Bhatti, Sikandar Raza, David Wise, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf and Zaman Khan.
