The Lahore Qalandars find themselves in deep trouble as they chase a daunting target of 186 set by the Multan Sultans in Match 16 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10.
Playing at the historic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the Qalandars were struggling at 45 for 2 in the seventh over, facing an uphill task to stay in contention.
Earlier in the day, Multan Sultans skipper Mohammad Rizwan delivered a masterclass in leadership, anchoring his side to an impressive 185/3 in 20 overs. Opting to bat first after losing the toss, the Sultans made a cautious start but quickly accelerated, thanks largely to opener Yasir Khan, who cracked 24 runs off just 18 balls before falling to a sharp delivery.
Despite a few early wickets — Usman Khan and Shai Hope contributing brief cameos — it was the unbeaten 115-run partnership between Rizwan and Kamran Ghulam that proved decisive. Rizwan remained not out on a commanding 76 off 48 balls, peppering the boundary with six fours and three towering sixes. Ghulam played an equally vital role, smashing 52 from 31 balls, including four maximums, to pile pressure on the Lahore Qalandars’ bowlers.
Among the Qalandars, Tom Curran, Haris Rauf, and Daryl Mitchell managed to take one wicket each, but overall, Lahore struggled to contain the Sultans’ aggressive batting.
The last time these two sides faced off — just four days ago — Multan Sultans had stunned the Qalandars with a 33-run victory, tightening an already razor-thin head-to-head record, which now sees Lahore leading by 10 wins to 9 in their past 19 meetings. Despite that setback, Lahore Qalandars entered today’s match with strong momentum, bolstered by captain Shaheen Afridi’s tactical brilliance and a lethal combination of explosive batting and sharp pace bowling, especially on their home turf.
However, things are looking bleak for the Qalandars in this latest clash. Star players like Sam Billings and Daryl Mitchell were expected to shoulder the responsibility. Billings has found his rhythm in the middle order, while Mitchell has been a consistent performer, amassing 144 runs across four innings at a strike rate above 150. Shaheen Afridi himself has proven to be a match-winner with both bat and ball, as demonstrated in last season’s thrilling final against the same opponents.
On the other hand, Multan Sultans are banking on the red-hot form of their captain Mohammad Rizwan, who has now scored 226 runs in just five innings. Usman Khan also looms large, having torn apart the Lahore Qalandars’ attack with a breathtaking 87 off 36 balls in their previous meeting. Spinner Usama Mir remains a wildcard too, having once recorded stunning figures of 6/40 against Lahore in a PSL game.
With the match progressing, Lahore Qalandars must dig deep if they are to avoid another setback at the hands of Multan Sultans.