Defending champion Lahore Qalandars have recorded a surprising one-run win in opposition to Multan Sultans on the final ball of the ultimate to win the Pakistan Super League and turn into the primary crew to retain the title.
Needing 4 runs off the final supply – bowled by Zaman Khan – Khusdil Shah was run out whereas going for the third run to degree Lahore’s complete of 6-200 as Multan completed at 8-199.
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s good all-round efficiency propelled Lahore to a robust complete with a belligerent 44 not out off simply 15 balls, and the left-arm pacer then picked up 4 wickets within the dying overs to complete with 4-51.
Khushdil and Abbas Afridi (17 not out) smacked quick bowler Haris Rauf for 22 runs within the penultimate over earlier than Zaman saved his nerve in entrance of 25,000 followers to offer the house crew victory.
“It was difficult early on as the momentum swung in the final,” Afridi stated. “We kept our nerves and succeeded to win crucial moments in the game.”
Both groups additionally performed in final yr’s closing, and Lahore started with a one-run win in opposition to Multan within the opening recreation of this yr’s event. Multan had overwhelmed Lahore within the qualifier earlier than Lahore beat Peshawar Zalmi of their elimination recreation.
Multan’s top-order batters did not get slowed down in opposition to a star-studded Lahore bowling lineup as captain Mohammad Rizwan (34) and Usman Khan (18) plundered Afridi for 34 runs in his first two overs.
Rizwan, who completed the event because the top-scorer with 550 runs in 12 video games, and Rilee Rossouw (52 in 32) then mixed in a 64-run stand off 42 balls earlier than ace leg-spinner Rashid Khan (2-26) dismissed each batters.
Rizwan was brilliantly snapped by David Wiese at long-on boundary after which Rossouw chopped Rashid’s turning ball again onto his stumps.
Afridi returned and bought the massive wickets of Kieron Pollard (19) and Australia’s Tim David (20) earlier than ending off his spell by eradicating Anwar Ali and Usama Mir off his final two balls.
Multan introduced down the goal to eight off the ultimate two deliveries. Khushdil lofted Zaman over further covers for a boundary off the penultimate ball however could not take Multan over the road within the closing supply.
Earlier, Afridi adopted the profitable template of Lahore to bat first.
Abdullah Shafique made a dangerous 65 off 40 balls when Pollard could not grasp a return catch earlier than the batter had scored, and Afridi confirmed his batting prowess by hitting 5 sixes and two fours, after leg-spinner Usama Mir (3-24) picked up three fast wickets and Lahore had stumbled to 5-112 within the fifteenth over.
Multan’s prime two wicket-takers within the event – Abbas Afridi and Ihsanullah – have been smashed for 49 runs in three overs within the dying overs as Afridi’s blistering knock allowed Lahore so as to add 71 runs off the final 4 overs.
Abbas Afridi topped the bowling charts with 23 wickets within the event.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
