LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars on Friday defeated Peshawar Zalmi by four wickets to face Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final and battle it out for the title of PSL season eight.
Young opening batter Tahir Baig’s sensible 54-run knock powered Lahore Qalandars into the final in a nail-biting contest in the Eliminator 2.
Dhuzz Dhuzz 💥@iamharis63 smokes it out of the park 💪#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #LQvPZ pic.twitter.com/QgD9fjTWTR
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 17, 2023
Chasing the 172-run target, the Lahore Qalandars reached home in 18.5 overs.
The Lahore Qalandars will now defend their title against Multan Sultans in the final, who thumped them by a massive margin of 86 runs in the qualifier on Wednesday.
Set to chase 172, the Lahore Qalandars accumulated 176/6 with seven balls to spare at the back of an anchoring half-century by opener Tahir.
The Lahore Qalandars had an unwanted start to the pursuit as the home side lost two quick wickets for a mere 38 runs in the fifth over, with their hard-hitting opener Fakhar Zaman (6) and debutant Ahsan Bhatti (15) perishing cheaply.
Abdullah Shafique then joined hands with Tahir and put on a brief 31-run partnership before a mix-up between the wickets saw the end of the former’s innings, who perished for a run-a-ball 10.
Despite his side losing wickets at regular intervals, Tahir held his ground firm. He kept the scoreboard ticking sensibly before putting a crucial partnership with Sam Billings, with the pair adding 50 runs in 28 deliveries.
Peshawar Zalmi’s last-match hero Aamer Jamal finally handed his side a much-needed breakthrough when he hit back at Tahir soon after the latter amassed his maiden half-century.
Tahir remained the top-scorer for the Lahore Qalandars, anchoring 42-ball 54, laced with seven boundaries and two sixes.
Billings and Sikandar Raza maintained Lahore Qalandars’ march towards victory with vital cameos before David Wiese (9*) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (12*) steered their side over the line.
Wicketkeeper batter Billings remained the notable run-getter for the Lahore Qalandars with his 21-ball 28, featuring three boundaries, followed by Sikandar, who scored 23 off 14 with the help of as many boundaries.
Azmatullah Omarzai led the bowling attack for the Zalmi with 2/31 while Salman Irshad, Aamer, and Wahab Riaz struck out a batter each.
Opting to bat first, Peshawar Zalmi managed to raise a respectable total of 171/5 on the board with the help of a brilliant knock by Mohammad Haris.
Earlier, the visitors were off to an unwanted start as Peshawar Zalmi lost their young batting sensation Saim Ayub (9) cheaply in the second over at a combined total of just 15.
Following an early setback, Peshawar Zalmi’s skipper Babar Azam and Haris settled things down as the pair added 89 runs amid the second-wicket partnership.
The duo had put Peshawar Zalmi in command at 102/1 in 11 overs before Rashid Khan handed Lahore Qalandars a much-needed breakthrough as he trapped Babar leg before wicket.
Babar scored 42 off 36 deliveries, smashing seven boundaries.
The Zalmi then dealt with another blow in the same bowler as Rashid Khan got rid of Tom Kohler-Cadmore for a duck.
Haris, however, continued his domination over the Lahore Qalandars’ bowlers and put on a vital 49-run partnership with Bhanuka Rajapaksa before Shaheen finally dismissed him on the last delivery of his spell.
He top-scored for Peshawar Zalmi with a 54-ball 85, hitting 11 boundaries and two sixes.
Following Haris’s departure, Rajapaksa’s cameo ensured Peshawar Zalmi finished with a par score in the second eliminator. He remained unbeaten with 25 in 18 balls with the help of four boundaries.
Rashid and Zaman Khan led the Qalandars’ bowling attack, taking two wickets each, while Shaheen made one scalp.
Lahore Qalandars Playing XIs
Mirza Tahir Baig, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings (wk), Ahsan Bhatti, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
Peshawar Zalmi Playing XIs
Saim Ayub, Babar Azam (c), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Mohammad Haris, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Haseebullah Khan (wk), Aamer Jamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Wahab Riaz, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Salman Irshad
