Lahore Qalandars all-rounder Sikandar Raza Butt (39 runs and 3 wickets for 20 runs) and Haris Rauf (4 wickets for 31 runs) were instrumental in helping Lahore Qalandars clinch a massive 88-run victory against Islamabad United, ending the latter’s winning streak in the 19th match of the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday.
Lahore Qalandars’ Innings:
After being put into bat, the Qalandars got off to a fiery start in the powerplay, with openers Fakhar Zaman (44) and Mohammad Naeem (25) forging a fifty-run opening partnership. Daryl Mitchell (28) and Abdullah Shafique (22) also made promising starts.
Subsequently, in the death overs, Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza treated United’s bowlers with great disdain. Sikandar smashed three boundaries and three sixes in his blistering 17-ball 39.
Sam Billings remained unbeaten on a 17-ball 38, hitting one boundary and four towering sixes. The late onslaught propelled the Qalandars to a formidable 209-6 against the three-time PSL champions, United.
For United, only three bowlers managed to take wickets. Imad Wasim (2-26) and Jason Holder (2-54) picked up two wickets each.
Ben Dwarshuis (1-51) claimed one wicket.
Islamabad United’s Innings:
Chasing a 210-run target, United suffered an early setback when their in-form batter Sahibzada Farhan (9) was dismissed. However, Andries Gous (41 off 27 balls) showed significant resistance with the bat, hitting two boundaries and three sixes.
Salman Agha, playing against his former side, scored a 25-ball 36, including two boundaries and three sixes. None of the other United batters could offer substantial resistance with the bat.
Azam Khan (1), Haider Ali (5), Shadab Khan (13), Jason Holder (0), Imad Wasim (2), Ben Dwarshuis (1), and Naseem Shah (11) failed to provide resistance. Hunain Shah remained unbeaten on 0.
For the Qalandars, Haris Rauf (4-31) was the standout bowler, picking up four wickets. Sikandar Raza (3-20) also impressed, bagging three wickets.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (1-10), Asif Afridi (1-24), and Tom Curran (1-24) took a wicket each.
Daryl Mitchell (0-12) went wicketless.
PLAYING XI:
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, Asif Ali, Tom Curran, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi
Islamabad United: Andries Gous, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Imad Wasim, Haider Ali, Jason Holder, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Ben Dwarshuis, Naseem Shah, Hunain Shah
