LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars were crowned champions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season eight after a 1-run nail-biting victory in the final match against Multan Sultans at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
In a nerve-racking PSL final, Lahore Qalandars became the first team to successfully defend their title and take the trophy home. Young pacer Zaman Khan held his nerves calm to defend 13 runs in the final over. Set to chase 201, the Multan Sultans fell just one run short of glory as the visitors could accumulate 199/8 in their quota of 20 overs despite Rossouw’s half-century.
Opting to bat first in the final, the Lahore Qalandars managed to put on a massive 200-run total to defend at the back of a brilliant fifty by Abdullah and Shaheen’s brisk 44.
The openers, Fakhar Zaman and Tahir Baig, started off cautiously for the Lahore 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 Multan Sultans.
Baig scored a quick 30 in 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.
CHAMPIONS 🏆#HBLPSL8 #QalandarHum pic.twitter.com/px2rc6dOYl
— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) March 18, 2023
The left-handed opener remained the notable run-getter for the Lahore Qalandars with 39 off 34.
Sam Billings (9) then partnered briefly with Abdullah and could add just 16 runs before Sultans’ spinners Usama and Khushdil Shah changed the dimension of the game.
🐍#qalandarhum #SabSitarayHumaray #HBLPSL8 #QalandarsCity #LQvMSpic.twitter.com/pHHLkWEsAx
— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) March 18, 2023
Multan 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 Lahore Qalandars to 115/5 in 15 overs.
Following the slump, Lahore 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 Lahore Qalandars with 65 in 40 deliveries, laced up with 10 boundaries, including two sixes.
On the other hand, Shaheen Shah Afridi continued his domination over clueless Multan 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.
Literally Akhri Ball Tak https://t.co/wl8ijk5mW5
— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) March 18, 2023
