Lahore Qalandars have posted a target of 181 against Multan Sultans in the final clash and match 34 of the seventh edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Gaddafi Stadium.
The openers Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique started the Qalandars’ innings. While, the first over for was delivered by Asif Afridi, went for 5 runs, in which Abdullah Shafique smashed one four.
David Willey bowled the second over and conceded 7 runs. In the third over Qalandars suffered from big blow when Fakhar was caught on mid-wicket boundary by Shaheen Shahnawaz Dahani on Asif Afridi’s second over. Fakhar perished on 3 (6). Zeeshan Ashraf was the new batter for Qalandars who started his innings with a boundary. The third over went for 9 runs.
Willey continued to bowl in the forth over of Qalandars’ innings, in which he got an important breakthrough for his team in the form of wicket-keeper batter Zeeshan Ashraf, who made his way back to the pavilion on 7 (5). The new batter who joined Abdullah Shafique was Kamran Ghulam. In the last ball of Willey’s second over, catch of Kamran Ghulam was dropped. Willey’s second over went for 4 runs, which was a successful one.
Mohammad Rizwan continued to proceed with Asif Afridi in the fifth over, in which he cleverly get rid of Abdullah Shafique on 14 (13), who was stamped by Mohammad Rizwan. During Shafique dismissal, leg-spinner Imran Tahir was seen enjoying the tea moment. Mohammad Hafeez arrived on the wicket when they were 25/3. Asif Afridi successful over went for just one run.
In the sixth over, Rumman Raees came to the attack, who conceded a boundary from Hafeez’s willow, which was an edge, but Qalandars’ fans welcomed it. In the same over, the veteran Hafeez played a delicate shot to the third man region for two consecutive times, the later one was misfielded by Shahnawaz Dahani. Raees went out to be costly for Sultans, as he conceded 15 runs in his first over.
The seventh over was bowled by Khushdil Shah for the first time, who bowled a tidy over, conceding only three runs.
Imran Tahir came to the attack for the Sultans in the eigth over, and kept things nice and tight for Rizwan XI and gave away only four runs.
Khushdil Shah continued to bowl the ninth over, as Hafeez smashed him for a sixer and a fine boundary, placed in the gap on long-on. Khushdil ended his second over conceding 13 runs.
Shahnawaz Dahani, finally came to the attack in the 10th over. Hafeez played another delicate shot against Dahani, as Dahani went for 10 runs.
Imran Tahir continued to deliver his leg-spinners in the 11th over as he bowled a tight over and conceded only five runs.
In the 12th over, Asif Afridi came back to the attack to complete his four over quota, managed to provide his another breakthrough in the form of Kamran Ghulam, who attempted to hit Asif Afridi, down the ground, but was caught by Tim David on 15 off 20. This put the partnership of 54 runs between Hafeez and Kamran Ghulam to an end. Harry Brook joined Hafeez at the wicket, as Asif Afridi finished off a promising spell, as he bagged three wickets, conceding only 19 runs.
The 13th over was started by Imran Tahir, who along with Mohammad reviewed a lbw against Hafeez, but that was a waste of a review, but it clearly touching the Hafeez’s bat. And, there came a hilarious exchange of words between Hafeez and Tahir. Tahir, bowled another brilliant over, only gave away four runs.
In the 14th Rizwan brought Khushdil Shah, back to the attack, in this Hafeez played a handsome cut shot. Khushdil conceded 10 runs in this over, which also included a wide delivery.
In the 15th over, bowled by Tahir, Mohammad Hafeez completed his maiden 50 in this year’s PSL. Hafeez played a sweep shot to get a boundary against Tahir. Imran Tahir conceded nine runs in his last over, ending his spell, giving away 22 runs and remained wicket less, which remained a rare case in this season’s PSL.
David Willey, who came back to the attack in the 16th over was welcomed by Mohammad Hafeez with a boundary, who guided the ball to the third man region, as Willey conceded 9 runs, but the over went for 10 runs, which included a leg bye.
Rumman Raees started off the 17th over, he lined the bowl badly and Brook nudged away the ball to a boundary. Harry Brook also hammered Raees for two sixes, one over midwicket region, and another he smashed straight down to the ground. The over turned out to the most expensive over, as Raees conceded 20 runs.
The 18th over, started by Shahnawaz Dahani, as he bowled a poor delivery, and went for the boundary in the first ball by Hafeez. He took a revenge and got rid of Hafeez, who played a great knock 69 (46), under the mounting pressure. Dahani gave away seven runs in his successful over.
In the 19th over, David Wiese, the new batter, welcomed Willey in his new spell, with a powerful sixer. This was not ended as Harry also muscled a sixer. Wiese, again hammered Willey for a mighty six. Willey conceded 22 runs, making this over the most expensive one.
The last over of Qalandars’ innings which was bowled by Shahnawaz Dahani, Brook played a gorgeous short over short fine leg region, and earned four runs. Wiese, not ended and smoked a sixer over mid-wicket, and Dahani could only see leather reaching to the pavilion. In the next bowl, Dahani conceded another boundary, though Wiese not managed to time it with too perfection, but his power was enough. Dahani conceded 17 runs. Qalandars finished on 180/5 in their innings.
Harry Brook played a fine innings, as he scored unbeaten 41 (22). While, David Wiese once again played a blinder, as he scored unbeaten 28 off 8 balls.
For Multan Sultans, Asif Afridi bagged three wickets. David Willey and Shahnawaz Dahani bagged one wicket apiece.