Mohammad Rizwan-led Multan Sultans defeated Lahore Qalandars on Wednesday to become the first team to qualify for the finals of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season.
Chasing a target of 161 runs, the Lahore team was bowled out for just 76 runs in 14.3 overs.
The winning moment courtesy of starboy @iAbbasAfridi55 🤩#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvMS pic.twitter.com/iVHQFFChY5
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 15, 2023
Lahore lost Mirza Tahir Baig (8) early on when Sheldon Cottrell took a great swipe from the batsman, which turned to one by Rizwan.
Cottrell trapped Abdullah Shafiq (0) in front of the stumps in the same over.
Lahore had hoped that opener and star batsman Fakhar Zaman would lead the run chase but it was not to be when the left-handed batsman was clean bowled by an ungarner from Anwar Ali. He scored six runs in seven balls.
Consistencyᵀᴹ 🙌
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 15, 2023
3️⃣rd consecutive final for @MultanSultans as @lahoreqalandars crash to the third-lowest HBLPSL total.#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvMS pic.twitter.com/JMEGQq70Jq
Cottrell also sent Shaheen Shah Afridi packing for zero in the fifth over of the match.
Hussain Talat (4) was sent back to the crease after a direct hit by Usman Khan.
Sikandar Raza (0) also departed soon after Abbas Afridi took a brilliant catch in the deep off Kieron Pollard. He shocked the Qalandars to 43-6 in the 10th over.
The remaining wickets also fell without much resistance as Multan completed a comprehensive victory over the defending champions.
Cottrell was one of the bowlers with figures of 3-20 in three overs.
First innings
Earlier, Multan scored 5-160 in the allotted 20 overs, opting to bat first.
Multan got off to a good start by scoring 46 runs without losing a wicket in the Powerplay.
Lahore got their first win in the eighth over when Haris Rauf cleaned out Usman Khan who scored 29 off 28 balls. He added 53 runs for the first wicket with captain Muhammad Rizwan.
WRECK-IT-RAUF 🎯
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 15, 2023
Destroying stumps at will 🫡#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvMS pic.twitter.com/ykf1hEReEI
Zaman Khan claimed the precious scalp of Riley Russo when he tried to hit a slower ball over long on but was caught by Rauf. He scored 13 runs in 12 balls.
Meanwhile, Rashid Khan dismissed Mohammad Rizwan after the latter missed a googly trying to play heavy towards the leg side. The Multan captain scored 33 runs off 29 balls with the help of three fours.
Lahore’s good bowling coupled with the Multan batsmen’s lack of intent ensured that the middle overs belonged to the side.
Razor-sharp Rashid 🫣#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvMS pic.twitter.com/R43YLZ45hA
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 15, 2023
However, Lahore squandered some chances in the death overs as Kieron Pollard took the attack to the bowling side. The tough West Indies batsman scored 57 runs in 34 balls with the help of six overs and a four.
Tim David remained unbeaten on 22 off 15 balls.
Rauf was one of the bowlers with figures of 3-34 in four overs. Meanwhile, Zaman and Rashid took one wicket each.
David Wiese also bowled an economical spell of 0-24 in four overs.
While Multan qualified for the finals, Lahore will now play the second eliminator against the winner of the first eliminator.
Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi will face each other in the first eliminator on Thursday and the losing team will be eliminated from the event. The winning team will face Lahore on Friday.
Playing XI
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Mirza Tahir Baig, Abdullah Shafiq, Sam Billings (wicket), Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, David Wise, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi (captain), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan.
Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Usman Khan, Riley Russo, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Sheldon Cottrell, Ehsanullah.
