Lahore Qalandars stormed into the final of the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL X) with a commanding 95-run victory over Islamabad United in Eliminator 2 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday.
QUETTA GLADIATORS' INNINGS
They will now face Quetta Gladiators in Sunday’s final at Gaddafi Stadium. Chasing a daunting 203-run target, United were skittled out for just 107 inside 16 overs. Only Salman Ali Agha (33) and Shadab Khan (26) offered any real resistance with the bat, as the rest of the batting order crumbled.
Sahibzada Farhan (3), Muhammad Shahzad (0), Rassie van der Dussen (7), Imad Wasim (8), James Neesham (8), Haider Ali (4), Naseem Shah (0), and Tymal Mills (7) failed to contribute meaningfully. Salman Irshad (0) remained not out at the end.
Qalandars’ bowlers delivered a clinical performance. Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-3), Salman Mirza (3-16), and Rishad Hossain (3-34) shared the spoils, each claiming three wickets.
LAHORE QALANDARS' INNINGS
Earlier, opting to bat first, Lahore posted a formidable 202-6. Despite losing Fakhar Zaman early for 12 off 11 balls, Mohammad Naeem (50) and Abdullah Shafique (25) stabilised the innings.
Naeem struck a fluent fifty, laced with seven boundaries and two sixes. Kusal Perera was equally impressive, smashing 61 off 35 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes. Bhanuka Rajapaksa added a quickfire 22 off 13 balls, while Asif Ali chipped in with 15 off seven.
Shakib Al Hasan (0) and Rishad Hossain (5) remained unbeaten at the close of the innings.
For United, Tymal Mills (3-42) was the pick of the bowlers, while Salman Irshad (2-40), Imad Wasim (1-16), and James Neesham (1-7) also claimed wickets. Shadab Khan (0-25) and Salman Ali Agha (0-14) went wicketless.
TOSS
The Qalandars had elected to bat first against Islamabad United in the second Eliminator of the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL X) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday.
According to details, the losing team will be eliminated, while the winning team will join Quetta Gladiators in the final, slated to happen on Sunday (May 25).
PLAYING XI
Islamabad United: +Sahibzada Farhan, Rassie van der Dussen, Haider Ali, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan (c), James Neesham, Imad Wasim, Tymal Mills, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Shahzad, Salman Irshad.
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, +Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Asif Ali, Shakib Al Hasan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Rishad Hossain, Salman Mirza.
