Lahore Qalandars hold nerves to clinch second consecutive PSL trophy

• Shaheen stars with bat, ball in nerve-racking match.
• Lahore Qalandars change into first crew to defend title.
• Mohammad Rizwan turns into season’s top-scorer.

In a nerve-wracking Pakistan Tremendous League closing, Lahore Qalandars turned the primary crew to efficiently defend their title and take the trophy residence Saturday after beating Multan Sultans by one run at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Chasing a frightening goal of 201 runs, the Sultans got here very near attaining the goal however misplaced by one run.

The Qalandars have change into the primary crew to efficiently defend the PSL title.

Through the run-chase, David Wiese offered the breakthrough within the fourth over of the innings after dismissing opener Usman Khan. The proper-hander scored 18 runs in 12 balls.

Regardless of the early loss, the Multans ensured that they saved up with the required run-rate as Rilee Rossouw and Mohammad Rizwan stitched a formidable partnership of 64 runs in 42 balls.

Nonetheless, Rossouw was cleaned up by Rashid Khan simply when the batter threatened to take the sport away from the Qalandars. The South African scored 52 runs in 32 balls.  

Rashid struck as soon as once more in his final over as Rizwan, 34 off 23, perished whereas making an attempt to clear the long-on boundary. It took a superb little bit of fielding from David Wiese who caught the ball, saved his stability, after which flicked the ball again within the air as he stepped over the rope earlier than reestablishing himself again contained in the boundary to finish the catch.

Shaheen, who conceded 34 runs in his first two overs, got here again in his second spell to clinch the wicket of the harmful Kieron Pollard. The Windies all-rounder scored 19 runs in 16 balls. 

Shaheen additionally bagged three wickets in his closing over to place his aspect in a powerful place to win the match.

Nonetheless, Haris Rauf conceded 22 runs within the penultimate over to make sure an exhilarating end to the match.

However Zaman Khan held his nerve to get his crew over the road within the closing over of the match.

Earlier, the Qalandars scored 200-6 of their allotted 20 overs.

After a brisk begin, the place the Qalandars scored 34 runs within the first three overs, opener Tahir Baig was dismissed by Ihsanullah with a pointy quick ball. The proper-hander scored 30 runs in 18 balls.

The wicket, coupled with some good bowling, helped the Sultans stem the circulation of runs as Lahore reached 82-1 on the midway mark.

Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique added 57 runs in 38 balls for the second wicket however, simply once they determined to extend the speed of scoring, Multan dismantled the batting aspect’s plans with 4 fast wickets.

Leg-spinner Usama Mir claimed three wickets in his first two overs, which included the scalps of Zaman (39), Sam Billings (9) and Ahsan Hafeez (0). 

In the meantime, Khushdil Shah cleaned up Sikandar Raza (1) with a ball that skidded by way of and crashed into the batter’s stumps.

With Lahore struggling, captain Shaheen stepped out on the sphere and took the assault to Multan bowlers with some sensational shot-making. He remained unbeaten on 44 runs in 15 balls, which included two fours and 5 maximums.

In the meantime, Khushdil Shah cleaned up Sikandar Raza (1) with a ball that skidded by way of and crashed into the batter’s stumps.

With the Qalandars struggling, captain Shaheen stepped out on the sphere and took the assault to Multan bowlers with some sensational shot-making. He remained unbeaten on 44 runs in 15 balls, which included two fours and 5 maximums.

Shafique additionally accelerated in the direction of the backend of the innings and ended up scoring 65 runs in 40 balls. He smacked eight fours and two sixes.

Usama Mir was the choose of the bowlers for the Sultans with figures of 3-24 in three overs.

The Sultans defeated the Qalandars within the Qualifier to e-book their spot within the closing. Whereas, Lahore overpowered Peshawar Zalmi to qualify for the championship match.

Taking part in XIs

Multan Sultans: Usman Khan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Rilee Rossouw, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, Anwar Ali, Usama Mir, Abbas Afridi, Sheldon Cottrell and Ihsanullah.

Lahore Qalandars: 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.