In an electrifying encounter at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, the Lahore Qalandars delivered a stunning all-round performance to dismantle Islamabad United by a massive margin of 88 runs in Match 19 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10.
Batting first, Lahore Qalandars put up a commanding total of 209 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Fakhar Zaman led from the front, scoring a solid 44 off 30 deliveries. He was well-supported by Sikandar Raza, who hammered a quickfire 39 off just 17 balls, and Sam Billings, who remained unbeaten with a blistering 38 from 17 balls. The aggressive intent and calculated shot selection kept the Lahore Qalandars in control throughout their innings.
For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim and Jason Holder managed to take two wickets each, but their efforts were overshadowed by the batting onslaught from Lahore Qalandars.
Chasing a daunting target of 210, Islamabad United struggled from the outset and were eventually bowled out for just 121 runs in 16.5 overs. Andries Gous was the only standout performer with the bat, scoring 41 off 27 balls, while Salman Ali Agha added a fighting 36 from 25 balls. However, their contributions weren’t enough to rescue Islamabad United from a collapse.
The bowling attack of Lahore Qalandars proved too lethal for Islamabad United. Haris Rauf was the chief architect of the demolition, claiming four key wickets with his fiery pace. Sikandar Raza further dented Islamabad United’s hopes by taking three wickets with his clever variations. Captain Shaheen Afridi also chipped in with one wicket.
This emphatic win keeps the hopes of Lahore Qalandars alive in the PSL 10 campaign and deals a major blow to Islamabad United, who now face a tough road ahead.
Playing XIs
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, Asif Ali, Tom Curran, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, and Asif Afridi
Islamabad United: Andries Gous, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Imad Wasim, Haider Ali, Jason Holder, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Ben Dwarshuis, Naseem Shah, and Hunain Shah.