Lahore Qalandars advanced to the Pakistan Premier League (PSL) season eight championship game on Friday with a slim four-wicket victory against Peshawar Zalmi thanks to young opening batsman Tahir Baig’s intelligent 54-run effort. The Multan Sultans, who thrashed the Qalandars by an enormous score of 86 runs in the qualifier on Wednesday, will now challenge the Qalandars for the championship.
Assigned to chase 172, the Qalandars amassed 176/6 with seven balls to spare with to starter Tahir’s dependable half-century. The Qalandars’ pursuit got off to an unfavorable start when the home team lost two early wickets for only 38 runs in the fifth over, including their powerful opener Fakhar Zaman (six) and debutant Ahsan Bhatti (15), who both went down for cheaply.
Qalandars down Zalmi to set up PSL 8 final
Next, Abdullah Shafique teamed up with Tahir, sharing a quick 31-run partnership until the former’s innings were over when he was dismissed for a run-a-ball 10. Although his team lost wickets often, Tahir remained steadfast and kept the scoreboard moving along rationally before forging an important partnership with Sam Billings in which they combined for 50 runs in 28 deliveries.
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Zalmi’s last-match hero Aamer Jamal then finally handed his side a much-needed breakthrough when he hit back at Tahir soon after the latter amassed his maiden half-century. Tahir remained the top-scorer for the Qalandars with an anchoring 42-ball 54, laced up with seven boundaries and two sixes. Billings and Sikandar Raza made sure to maintain Qalandars’ march towards victory with vital cameos before David Wiese (9*) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (12*) steered their side over the line.
Wicketkeeper batter Billings remained the notable run-getter for the Qalandars with his 21-ball 28, featuring three boundaries, followed by Sikandar, who scored 23 off 14 with the help of as many boundaries. The Qalandars’ pursuit got off to an unfavorable start when the home team lost two early wickets for only 38 runs in the fifth over, including their powerful opener Fakhar Zaman (six) and debutant Ahsan Bhatti (15), who both went down for cheaply.
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Next, Abdullah Shafique teamed up with Tahir, sharing a quick 31-run partnership until the former’s innings were over when he was dismissed for a run-a-ball 10. Although his team lost wickets often, Tahir remained steadfast and kept the scoreboard moving along rationally before forging an important partnership with Sam Billings in which they combined for 50 runs in 28 deliveries.
Salman Irshad, Aamer, and Wahab Riaz also each knocked out a batter as the Zalmi’s bowling assault was topped by Azmatullah Omarzai, who finished with 2/31. After deciding to bat first, Zalmi amassed a decent score of 171/5 thanks in large part to the outstanding performance of their wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris. As Zalmi lost their new batting prodigy Saim Ayub (9) cheaply in the second over with a combined total of only 15, the visitors got off to a bad start.
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After suffering a setback early on, Zalmi’s captain Babar Azam and Haris brought things to a close for their team as they combined for 89 runs during the second-wicket stand. When Babar was caught leg before wicket by Rashid Khan, Qalandars received a much-needed breakthrough. The pair had placed Zalmi in control at 102/1 in 11 overs. Babar got 42 points off of 36 pitches while launching seven boundaries.
The Zalmi subsequently suffered a second setback when Rashid Khan dismissed Tom Kohler-Cadmore for a duck. Nonetheless, Haris continued to dominate the Qalandars bowlers and combined with Bhanuka Rajapaksa to put up a crucial 49-run partnership before being ultimately removed by Shaheen with the penultimate delivery of his innings. With a 54-ball 85 that included 11 boundaries and two sixes, he set the record for Zalmi.
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Rajapaksa’s appearance after Haris left ensured Zalmi completed with a score of par in the second eliminator. With the aid of four boundaries, he scored 25 in 18 balls to remain unblemished. The Qalandars’ bowling assault was headed by Rashid and Zaman Khan, who both claimed two wickets, with Shaheen contributing just one.