Lahore Qalandars lift maiden PSL trophy

LAHORE — Lahore Qalandars beat Multan Sultans by 42 runs in the final match of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Although Lahore had set a tough 181-run target for Multan, they had to be at their best both with the ball as well as in the field. And, they did that.

Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi deployed Mohammad Hafeez early and he removed the in-form Mohammad Rizwan for 14 runs at the total score of 36 runs in four overs.

Fakhar failed with the bat but was brilliant in the field. He removed Shan Masood with a brilliant direct-hit and took a great catch of Aamer Azmat, reducing Multan to 46-3.

Asif Afridi was removed four runs and dangerous Rilee Rossow for 15 by pacer Zaman Khan.

Khushdil Shah and Tim David hit some boundaries, but couldn't stand against the world-class bowling attack of Lahore. Khushdil was bowled by Haris Rauf and David by Shaheen.

After that Willey, Tahir and Rumman were removed one after another. Tahir was the last man to go and the entire Gaddafi Stadium erupted in joy.

On the bowling front, Shaheen took three wickets, Hafeez and Zaman two each and Wiese and Rauf one each. And Lahore won their maiden PSL trophy.

Earlier, Moahmmad Hafeez and Harry Brook’s powerful innings helped Lahore to set a handsome target of 181 runs for Multan.

After Lahore suffered early blows by losing wickets of their top order – Fakhar Zamah, Abdullah Shafique, Zeeshan Ashraf and Kamran Ghulam – Hafeez and Brook helped the team recover.

Hafeez made 69 off 46 before he was sent to pavilion by Shahnawaz Dahani, denting Lahore's recovery.

https://twitter.com/thePSLt20/status/1497959753837801477

Brook made 41 runs while Davis Wiese smashed 28 off 8. 

https://twitter.com/thePSLt20/status/1497968948771385344

Lahore beat Islamabad and Multan knocked out Peshawar Zalmi to reach the final. 

The final match will begin at 7.30 PM, but fans have been advised to reach the stadium before 6:00 PM, before the closure of the gates. 

https://twitter.com/thePSLt20/status/1497574699219496962

Squads

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi, David Wiese, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohail Akhtar, Zeeshan Ashraf, Ahmed Daniyal, Fakhar Zaman, Phil Salt, Harry Brook, Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam, Dean Foxcroft, Zaman Khan, Maaz Khan, Samit Patel, Syed Faridoun, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Akif Javed, Ben Dunk and Matthew Potts. 

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Shan Masood, Sohaib Maqsood, Rilee Rossouw, Tim David, Khushdil Shah, Asif Afridi, David Willey, Imran Tahir, Imran Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani  

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