Lahore Qalandars all-rounder Sikandar Raza Butt (39 and 3-20) and Haris Rauf (4-31) helped 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) stitching together a fifty-run opening stand. 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 contempt. Sikandar slammed three boundaries and three sixes in his blistering 17-ball 39.
Sam Billings remained unbeaten on a 17-ball 38, smashing one boundary and four towering sixes. The late onslaught powered the Qalandars to a staggering 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 apiece.
Ben Dwarshuis (1-51) took one wicket.
Islamabad United’s Innings
Chasing a 210-run target, United suffered an early blow when their in-form batter Sahibzada Farhan (9) was dismissed. However, Andries Gous (41 off 27) showed great resistance with the bat, slamming two boundaries and three sixes.
Salman Agha, who was playing against his former side, scored a 25-ball 36, creaming two boundaries and three sixes. None of the other United batters could show significant 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 offer 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
