Sikandar Raza’s extraordinary arrival just minutes before the toss turned out to be a fairy tale ending for Lahore Qalandars as they clinched their third Pakistan Super League (PSL) title on Sunday with a thrilling six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators.

The 39-year-old Zimbabwean all-rounder touched down in Pakistan only 10 minutes before the toss, after flying overnight from England where he had featured in Zimbabwe’s innings defeat against England in the Nottingham Test the previous day. Despite the gruelling travel, Raza’s impact was immediate and decisive.

Raza remained unbeaten on 22 off just seven balls, hitting two towering sixes and two elegant fours to steer Lahore home with one ball to spare in a tense 202-run chase at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

“I had dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, lunch in Abu Dhabi, and dinner in Pakistan,” said Raza, reflecting on his hectic travel schedule. “This is the life of a professional cricketer, and I’m truly humbled and blessed.”

Chasing 202, Lahore relied heavily on Raza and Sri Lankan Kusal Perera, who remained unbeaten on 62 off 31 deliveries, including five boundaries and four sixes, in a crucial unbroken fifth-wicket partnership worth 59 runs.

Mohammad Naeem and Abdullah Shafique laid a solid foundation with 46 and 41 runs respectively, helping Lahore achieve the highest successful chase in a PSL final.

Quetta Gladiators, having won the toss and opted to bat, posted a competitive 201 for nine, thanks largely to an outstanding 76 from Hasan Nawaz. The left-hander’s innings was bolstered by partnerships with Avishka Fernando (29) and Dinesh Chandimal (22), who added 67 and 46 runs respectively.

Faheem Ashraf’s late surge of 28 runs, including 23 off the final over bowled by Salman Mirza, pushed Quetta past the 200-run mark.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was the standout bowler for Lahore, claiming 3 wickets for 24 runs.

This victory marks Lahore Qalandars’ third consecutive PSL title after their wins in 2022 and 2023, underscoring their dominance in the league.