Lahore Qalandars, who once faced criticism for their under-performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), created a history-making performance against Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday.
Playing their first match in front of the home crowd at the Gaddafi Stadium, the Qalandars created history in the eighth edition of the PCB-sponsored annual cricket tournament by posting the highest score of the season so far.
With a brilliant display of power hitting in the 15th PSL match, the batsmen piled up a mammoth total of 241 runs against Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday. The amazing performance resulted in them bagging the highest ever collection of PSL 8 and the third highest collection in PSL history.
With Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafiq, and Sam Billings, Peshawar’s bowling was blown away as Lahore posted an impressive 241/3 in their allotted 20 overs. Fakhar and Abdullah scored half-centuries, while Sam Billings smashed 47 off just 23 balls, ensuring his team’s entry into the record books.
Top scorer Zaman fell short of the century after scoring 96 off just 45 balls. His brilliant innings consisted of three fours and ten massive sixes. Shafiq, who made his debut in the ongoing season, provided valuable support with a brilliant innings of 75 off 41 balls, which included five fours and as many sixes.
Lahore Qalandars beat Peshawar Zalmi
Lahore Qalandars defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 40 runs in the 15th match, Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi provided the best start.
Opting to bat first, the Qalandars set a huge target of 242 before restricting Zalmi to 201 in 20 overs thanks to brilliant batting by Fakhar and Abdullah Shafiq and five wickets by Shaheen.
In reply to the big total, Zalmi played a good partnership of Saeem Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore after losing both the openers.
Shaheen gave Qalandars the perfect start against Zalmi. The skipper dismissed Mohammad Haris with a sensational yorker off the second ball of his first over.
