Lahore – The Lahore Qalandars produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat the Multan Sultans by 20 runs in a rain-affected Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 thriller at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
In a match reduced to 13 overs per side due to a two-hour rain interruption, the Qalandars posted a commanding total of 185/5, thanks to a blistering knock from Mohammad Naeem, who was named Player of the Match for his explosive 60 off 28 deliveries.
Set a revised target of 186 runs in just 13 overs, the Sultans fought hard but managed 165/5, falling short despite a valiant unbeaten half-century from captain Ashton Turner and a quickfire cameo from Shan Masood.
The chase got off to a disastrous start for Multan as they lost key batters Steve Smith and Josh Philippe early during the powerplay, scoring just 18 runs in the first 3.5 overs. Although Masood (44 off 18) and Sahibzada Farhan attempted to stabilize the innings, wickets at crucial intervals kept the pressure on the chasing side.
Turner anchored the innings with a powerful 52 not out off just 22 balls, smashing five sixes and two fours, while Arafat Minhas added a valuable 25 runs. However, their efforts were not enough to complete a remarkable comeback, marking the Sultans’ first defeat of the tournament.
For the Qalandars, Mustafizur Rahman stood out with an economical spell, taking 2 wickets for 37 runs, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sikandar Raza, and Ubaid Shah chipped in with key breakthroughs.
Earlier, the Qalandars’ innings was built on a flying start as Naeem and Parvez Hossain Emon put together an 86-run partnership in just five overs. Despite early breakthroughs from debutant pacer Muhammad Ismail, who claimed two wickets, Lahore maintained a strong scoring rate throughout.
Emon smashed 45 off 19 balls, while Abdullah Shafique contributed a quick 33 off 14 deliveries. Naeem remained the backbone of the innings, combining aggressive stroke play with consistency to set up a match-winning total.
Peter Siddle and Faisal Akram picked up crucial wickets for the Sultans, but the Qalandars’ depth ensured they reached a challenging total under pressure.
With this victory, the Qalandars continue their strong campaign in PSL 11, while the Sultans will look to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.