KARACHI – Defending champions Lahore Qalandars displayed A-game to outclass Rawalpindi by 32 runs in a high-octane clash of Pakistan Super League (PSL 11), knocking them out of the tournament.
RawalPindiz crumbled under pressure and were restricted to 178-9 in their 20 overs, undone by a fiery and disciplined bowling attack led by Lahore’s pace spearhead. The drama started early when skipper Shaheen Afridi struck twice in a devastating third over, removing opener Shahzaib Khan and captain Mohammad Rizwan to leave RawalPindiz reeling at 17-2.
A brief fightback came through Daryl Mitchell and Yasir Khan, who steadied the innings with a crucial stand. Yasir counterattacked in style, smashing his fourth PSL fifty in a blistering knock of 58 off just 29 balls, laced with six fours and three sixes. But just as hope flickered, Haris Rauf turned the game on its head, dismissing Mitchell and Yasir in the same over to rip through the middle order.
Sikandar Raza removed Sam Billings cheaply, while Usama Mir struck twice in quick succession to derail any recovery, sending Dian Forrester and Colin McConchie back to the pavilion. Daniel Sams added to the misery by dismissing Razaullah.
Saad Masood launched late counterattack, smashing a fearless 54 off 26 balls with nine boundaries and a six, briefly lifting the crowd. But his resistance ended in the final over when Rauf claimed his third wicket, sealing RawalPindiz’s fate.
Rauf starred with the ball, taking three wickets, while Shaheen Afridi and Usama Mir grabbed two each. Sams and Raza chipped in with one apiece to complete a clinical bowling display.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars lit up the stadium with the bat, piling up a massive 210-4 in their 20 overs, thanks to a breathtaking opening stand between Mohammad Farooq and Fakhar Zaman.
The duo came out blazing, racing past 50 in the powerplay and putting the opposition bowlers under relentless pressure. Farooq was in sublime form, hammering 63 off 41 balls with five fours and five sixes to register his maiden PSL fifty. At the other end, Fakhar played the perfect partner, anchoring the innings while keeping the run rate soaring.
Together, they stitched a commanding 121-run partnership before Mohammad Amir finally broke through, dismissing Farooq.
Fakhar, however, remained unstoppable. The left-hander surged to yet another milestone, bringing up his 25th PSL half-century and continuing to dominate the bowling attack. Abdullah Shafique added valuable support with a brisk 26 off 18 balls as the pair added another 70 runs.
Razaullah provided a late breakthrough by removing Shafique and then striking again to dismiss Sikandar Raza for a duck, but the damage had already been done.
Fakhar’s sensational innings finally ended in the 19th over when Amir struck again, removing him for a superb 84 off 54 balls, studded with 11 fours and a six.
Lahore Qalandars won the toss and boldly chose to bat first against RawalPindiz in the 27th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 on Saturday at the National Bank Stadium.
Lahore Qalandars vs RawalPindiz Squads
RawalPindiz: Mohammad Farooq, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Charith Asalanka, Haseebullah (wk), Sikandar Raza, Asif Ali, Daniel Sams, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Usama Mir, Haris Rauf.
RawalPindiz: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Shahzaib Khan, Yasir Khan, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Dian Forrester, Saad Masood, Colin McConchie, Razaullah Khan, Asif Afridi, Mohammad Amir.
History is being made as these two sides meet for the very first time in PSL history, adding extra spice to an already pressure-filled encounter where neither team can afford another setback.
It’s a battle between two struggling sides clinging to survival hopes at the bottom of the table.
The Shaheen Shah Afridi-led Lahore Qalandars, three-time champions, are currently languishing in seventh place with just two wins from six matches. Worse still, they arrive on the back of three consecutive defeats, desperately searching for a turnaround that could lift them above Karachi Kings and reignite their fading campaign.
On the other side, Mohammad Rizwan’s RawalPindiz are in a far more alarming situation. With six straight defeats and no wins so far in the tournament, they are teetering on the edge of elimination. Every match now feels like a last stand, and they will be hoping—against all odds—to finally break their losing streak and claim a historic first victory.
