Lahore Qalandars defeated Peshawar Zalmi by four wickets in a thrilling final to advance to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) championship match, where they will face Multan Sultans.
The Qalandars completed their chase of the 172-run target in 18.5 overs. They were defeated early by Azmatullah Omarzai after Fakhar Zaman (6) castled while attempting to play a big heave. Ahsan Hafeez, who was taking part in his first PSL game, top-edged a ball from Wahab Riaz and handed a straightforward catch to wicketkeeper Haseebullah. In 10 balls, the left-hander scored 15 runs.
Abdullah Shafique and Mirza Tahir Baig got into a major mix-up, and the former was expelled. 10 run-a-balls were scored by the right-hander. Sam Billings came to the crease after Shafique left, and together with Tahir, they successfully restarted the Qalandars’ run chase with a crucial 50-run partnership in just 28 balls. Aamer Jamal secured the crucial victory after Tahir was dismissed after reaching his first T20 fifty. With the help of seven fours and two sixes, he scored 54 runs in 42 balls. Salman Irshad’s outstanding yorker blew Billings away. In just 21 balls, he scored 28 crucial runs. Sikandar Raza, meanwhile, scored 22 runs in 13 balls. In the 19th over, Shaheen Afridi hit a six and a four to help his team win.
Pacer Zaman Khan to his side provided an early breakthrough after he shattered Saim Ayub’s (9) stumps with a delivery that darted back in off the pitch. After the early setback, Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris added 89 runs in 60 balls for the second wicket to put Zalmi in control of the match.
However, just when the Qalandars needed it, Rashid Khan claimed two wickets in the same over to send Babar (42 off 36) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (0) back to the hut. Although, Haris kept on playing shots with ease and went on to score 85 runs in 54 balls. His impressive knock included 11 fours and two sixes.
Shaheen was expensive with the ball as he conceded 41 runs in four overs but sent Haris back to the pavilion on the final delivery of his spell.
Zaman was the pick of the bowlers for the Qalandars with figures of 2-20 in three overs.
