LAHORE: Top-order batter Abdullah Shafique’s anchoring half-century and Shaheen Shah Afridi’s quickfire helped Lahore Qalandars to accumulate 200/6 against Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) eighth edition final at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore.
Defending champions Lahore Qalandars handed Multan Sultans a target of 201 runs in the final battle.
Lahore Qalandars Fakhar Zaman has achieved a crucial milestone in the tournament final of the PSL.
During the match, Fakhar completed 100 sixes in the eight seasons of Pakistan’s premier league.
After a brisk start, where Lahore Qalandars scored 34 runs in the first three overs, opener Tahir Baig was dismissed by Ihsanullah with a sharp short ball. The right-hander scored 30 runs in 18 balls.
The wicket and some good bowling helped Multan stem the flow of runs as Lahore reached 82-1 at the halfway mark.
Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique added 57 runs in 38 balls for the second wicket, but just when they decided to increase the scoring rate, Multan Sultans dismantled the batting side’s plans with four quick wickets.
Leg-spinner Usama Mir claimed three wickets in his first two overs, which included the scalps of Fakhar Zaman (39), Sam Billings (9) and Ahsan Hafeez (0).
Meanwhile, Khushdil Shah cleaned up Sikandar Raza (1) with a ball that skidded through and crashed into the batter’s stumps.
With Lahore Qalandars struggling, captain Shaheen Afridi stepped out on the field and took the attack to Multan Sultans bowlers with some spectacular shot-making. He remained unbeaten on 44 runs in 15 balls, which included two fours and five maximums.
Shafique also accelerated towards the backend of the innings and scored 65 runs in 40 balls. He smacked eight fours and two sixes.
Usama Mir was the pick of the bowlers for Multan, with figures of 3-24 in three overs.
Lahore Qalandars aims to become the first team to win back-to-back PSL titles, whereas Multan Sultans will be looking to clinch their title for the second time.
Lahore Qalandars Playing XI
Mirza Tahir Baig, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings (wk), Ahsan Bhatti, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf and Zaman Khan.
Multan Sultans Playing XI
Usman Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Rilee Rossouw, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Sheldon Cottrell and Ihsanullah.
