Lahore Qalandar needed 14 runs in the final over but fielding efforts restricted Multan Sultan’s to win the match. Zaman khan made an extra ordinary show of his bowling and controlled nerves after brilliant run out of Kieron Pollard from Hussain Talat. Khushdil shah needed to score 9 runs in the last two deliveries. He scored two consecutive fours only. In the result, Qalandars’ won the match by one run.
Multan Sultans had a solid start to the run chase of 176 with Shan Masood (35 off 31) and Rizwan, whose 75 off 50, comprising eight fours and a six, was the top score in the match, putting a 100-run partnership. Shan was caught by Hussain Talat on the 12.2 overs mark, and that was the only wicket to fall before Rizwan’s dismissal.
After Multan Sultans had scored 53 runs in the Powerplay, Lahore Qalandars managed to restrict the flow of boundaries. The spell ended when Miller, scoring 24 off 20 balls, hit David Wiese for four on the second ball of the 14th over, breaking a 28-ball-long period without a boundary.
Lahore Qalandars got off to a strong start thanks to the opening duo of Fakhar Zaman and debutant Mirza Tahir Baig, after Multan Sultans captain Rizwan chose to field upon winning the toss. The pair added 61 runs before Tahir was dismissed by Akael Hosein after scoring 32 off 26 balls.
It seemed like Fakhar, who scored the most runs in the HBL PSL 7, had picked up from where he left his form in the Lahore Qalandars colours as he continued to score at a brisk pace and brought up his 17th half century of the tournament in 32 balls. He added 58 runs with Shai Hope, who scored 19 off 17.
Player of the match, Fakhar, continued his impressive performance by hitting five sixes and three fours in his 42-ball 66. However, he was the second wicket to fall in tandem when he was caught out at deep square leg off Usama Mir on the first ball of the 16th over. This was leg-spinner Usama’s second wicket after he had sent back Hope earlier in the innings.
On the previous delivery, pacer Ihsanullah had dismissed Kamran Ghulam, who managed only three runs off six balls.
Hussain played a role in the lower middle-order, smashing 20 runs off 12 balls, while Sikander Raza, Qalandars’ Zimbabwean import, remained unbeaten on 19 runs off 14 balls. Hussain was dismissed in the penultimate over by Ihsanullah.
Shahnawaz Dahani picked up his solitary wicket on the last ball of the innings when he struck David Wiese’s pad in front of stumps.
Scores in brief:
Lahore Qalandars 175-6, 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 66, Mirza Tahir Baig 32, Hussain Talat 20; Usama Mir 2-25, Ihsanullah 2-37)
Multan Sultans 174-6, 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 75, Shan Masood 35, David Miller 24, Kieron Pollard 20)
Player of the match – Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars)
