ISLAMABAD: Lahore Qalandars impressed with the bat yet again on Monday, handing Islamabad United a daunting 201-run target at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and going on to win the 16th match of Pakistan Super League 2023 with 110 runs.
Apart from the opening stand of 41 runs between Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Colin Munro, Islamabad couldn't form a partnership and failed to get going. They lost the partnership in quick succession, which pegged them back in the chase. Through the match, they failed to recover from the twin blows and sank further back in the chase.
“A routing in Lahore as the hosts win by 110 runs,” PSL posted on its official Twitter page.
Indeed, it was an exceptional bowling performance from Lahore, who bowled Islamabad out for a paltry total of 90 runs.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Qalandars got off to a flying start with openers Fakhar Zaman and Mirza Tahir Baig putting on 58 runs for the first partnership. However, Baig was the first to go, bowled by United skipper Shadab Khan after scoring 20 runs from 17.
Zaman was bowled by Tom Curran, scoring 36 runs from 23 balls. The in-form Abdullah Shafique top-scored for the Qalandars with 45 runs, which came off 24 balls. His innings featured two sixes and four boundaries.
Lahore Qalandars' Sam Billings (R) plays a shot as Islamabad United's wicketkeeper Azam Khan watches during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 cricket match at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on February 27, 2023. (AFP)
Keeper Sam Billings made an impressive 33 runs from 23 balls while Sikandar Raza once again smashed boundaries all over the park, scoring 23 runs from 10 balls.
Qalandars finished at 200-7 at the end of 20 overs, with Curran picking up 3/34 figures while Khan finshed with 2/34 from his four overs. Hassan Ali and Abrar Ahmed took a wicket each.
United are sitting pretty at number two on the PSL points table, having won three of their four matches in the tournament so far. The Qalandars, who also have three wins from four matches in this year's PSL, are at number three on the points table, with a net run rate of +0.463.
SQUADS
Lahore Qalandars playing XI: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Sam Billings (wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, Rashid Khan, David Wiese, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
Islamabad United playing XI: Colin Munro, Rehmanullah Gurbaz, Rassie van der Dussen, Shadab Khan (captain), Azam Khan (wicketkeeper) Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Tom Curran, Hassan Ali, Zeeshan Zameer, Abrar Ahmed
