At the Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday, Lahore Qalandars defeated Multan Sultans in the first game of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023.
In order to bring the chase even closer, Khushdil Shah fought and hit two boundaries off the final two balls. In the final over, young Zaman Khan held off 14 runs to help his team win the match.
Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood’s 100-run partnership for the first wicket had given the Sultans a commanding lead. In the PSL, Rizwan hit his 13th fifty against the reigning champions.
The two batters held their ground at the crease for an extended period of time, not allowing the Qalandars’ bowlers to get comfortable. Hussain Talat, who sent Masood, who scored 35 off 31 balls, back to the pavilion, gave the Qalandars their first breakthrough.
Later, Rizwan was bowled out by Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi after scoring 75 runs in 50 balls, bringing the home team’s score to 131-2.
The Qalandars captain and his bowling partner Haris Rauf got their side back into the game after the two openers.
The left-fourth armer’s over was fantastic.
Rauf delivered a scorching yorker to get rid of left-handed hitter David Miller of South Africa, who scored 25 runs and is known for his power-hitting skills.
Shaheen gave Zaman the ball with 15 runs needed in the final over. The kid handed up a run after throwing an excellent yorker to start the over.
Hard-hitter Kieron Pollard was dismissed on the following pitch after attempting to run for two but failing to arrive at the crease in time.
Usman Khan was forced to leave the field after Usman Khan was ruled out by a fast full toss by Zaman that struck his thigh pad.
Usama Mir was forced to leave for a duck as the right-arm bowler bowled a wide and then another spectacular delivery that also resulted in a run-out.
Khushdil’s final two balls produced back-to-back boundaries, but Sultans fell two runs short of their goal.
Fakhar’s 66 runs off 42 balls helped the defending champions Qalandars, who were given the opportunity to bat first, achieve 176 runs in 20 overs. The left-handed batter scored his final 2000 PSL runs.
Before being caught by Akeal Hossain, young opener Mirza Tahir Baig hit 36 runs off just 26 balls.
With a 61-run partnership for the first wicket, the two batters solidified the team’s position and laid the groundwork for the Qalandars.
Shai Hope, the wicketkeeper, also hit 19 runs from 17 balls in the meantime.
All-rounder Sikandar Raza (19) and Hussain Talat (20) shared a 39-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help their team reach the respectable total.
Usama and Ihsanullah both took two wickets for Multan Sultans, while Akeal only managed one.
Shaheen Afridi is in command of the reigning champions Qalandars while Mohammad Rizwan is in charge of Multan.
