In the 20th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Qalandars defeated Multan Sultans by 21 runs to become the first team of the tournament to qualify for the playoffs.
Chasing a target of 181, Sultans got off to a good start as Mohammad Rizwan and Shaan Masood went through the powerplay unscathed while also scoring 44 runs in the process.
However, Masood fell in the seventh over of the innings after taking a brilliant catch from Zaman Khan by Shaheen Afridi. The left-hander scored 19 runs in 20 balls.
After a successful review, Sikandar Raza got the valuable scalp of Muhammad Rizwan who scored 30 runs off 27 balls. The on-field umpire turned down the lbw appeal but the replay showed three reds.
In a surprising call, Usama Mir was promoted up the order to score some quick runs but the experimenter managed to score 17 runs off just 11 balls. Mir, who came in to bat at number three, was cleaned out by Rashid Khan. The Afghanistan leg-spinner also dismissed David Miller (1) in the same over after another successful Qalandars review.
The @iamusamamir promotion does not last long.
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 4, 2023
Gone after this massive six ⚡#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvMS pic.twitter.com/8zIFGtcRB0
Rashid, who finished with figures of 3-15 from four overs, also sent Riley Russo back to the hut.
Kieron Pollard scored 39 off 28 balls but it was not enough to get Sultans over the line.
Zaman Khan, Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza and Hussain Talat took one wicket each.
Sultans were restricted to 159-7 in 20 overs.
Earlier, against Sultans in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore, Qalandars won the toss and decided to bat first and set a target of 181 runs.
Qalandars scored 180-9 in the allotted 20 overs.
The batting side suffered a major blow in the first over when in-form opener Fakhar Zaman (0) was caught by third man trying to clear the fence.
Meanwhile, Ehsanullah dismissed Mirza Tahir Baig in the fifth over of the innings and Abdullah Shafiq later formed a 50-run partnership. The right-hander scored 17 runs off 11 balls.
After losing the bag, Shafiq formed another healthy partnership with Sam Billings. However, the 69-run stand was broken when Shafiq was caught and bowled by Kieron Pollard for 48 off 35 balls.
Billings, who looked set for a big one, was caught in front of the stumps after misjudging Pollard’s delivery. The English batsman scored 54 runs in 35 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes.
Stellar hit from @sambillings! 👏
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 4, 2023
And well caught 🫡#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvMS pic.twitter.com/MbFpreARce
Sikandar Raza scored 14 runs, meanwhile, David Wiese remained unbeaten at 15 runs.
For Sultans, Pollard, Ihsanullah, Abbas Afridi and Anwar Ali claimed two wickets each.
Playing XIs
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Shan Masood, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Kieron Pollard, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Sameen Gul, Ihsanullah
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Mirza Tahir Baig, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings(w), Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi(c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
