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| Photo: PCB |
Match Summary:
Lahore Qalandars Innings (180 for 5):
- Lahore Qalandars won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that was crucial given their history of struggling while chasing.
- The start wasn't ideal for Lahore as they lost early wickets. Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, and Zeeshan Ashraf departed early, leaving Lahore reeling at 25 for 3 in just over 4 overs.
- Mohammad Hafeez played a pivotal role with the bat, anchoring the innings with a brilliant knock of 69 runs off 46 balls. His innings was a blend of aggression and elegance, reminiscent of his impactful performances in important matches.
- Harry Brook provided crucial support in the middle order with an unbeaten 41 off just 22 balls. His innings included some aggressive strokes that helped Lahore accelerate towards the end.
- David Wiese's contribution was also significant, smashing 28 runs off just 8 balls towards the end of the innings. His quickfire cameo ensured Lahore posted a competitive total of 180 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs.
- The Lahore Qalandars innings was characterized by a strong recovery after the early setbacks, with the lower middle order stepping up to capitalize on the platform set by Hafeez and Brook.
Multan Sultans Innings (138 all out):
- Chasing 181 for victory, Multan Sultans got off to a decent start with Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood providing a solid foundation.
- However, the Sultans faltered under pressure from Lahore's bowling attack. Mohammad Hafeez, who had earlier starred with the bat, continued his impactful performance by taking 2 crucial wickets for 23 runs in his 4 overs.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of the bowlers for Lahore Qalandars, picking up 3 wickets for 30 runs. His aggressive pace and accurate yorkers proved too much to handle for the Sultans' middle and lower order batsmen.
- Haris Rauf also contributed significantly, picking up important wickets to further dent Multan's chances of a successful chase.
- Despite efforts from Tim David and Khushdil Shah, who put on a partnership of 51 runs, Multan Sultans struggled to keep up with the mounting required run rate.
- The Sultans eventually collapsed under the pressure, getting bowled out for 138 runs in 17.5 overs, falling short of the target by 43 runs.
Key Moments and Turning Points:
- Hafeez's Dual Impact: Mohammad Hafeez played a crucial dual role in the match, first anchoring Lahore's innings with a vital 69 runs and then taking 2 key wickets during Multan's chase.
- Brook's Middle Order Rescue: Harry Brook's unbeaten 41 off 22 balls provided the necessary acceleration to Lahore's innings after the top order collapse, ensuring they posted a challenging total.
- Shaheen Shah Afridi's Bowling Masterclass: Afridi's spell of 3 wickets for 30 runs, including crucial breakthroughs, dismantled Multan's batting lineup and swung the match decisively in Lahore's favor.
- Team Effort and Redemption: Lahore Qalandars' victory symbolized a collective team effort and redemption after years of underperformance in the PSL, finally culminating in their maiden title win.
Conclusion: Lahore Qalandars' victory in the PSL final against Multan Sultans was not only a triumph in terms of the match but also a culmination of their journey towards redemption in the league. Led by standout performances from Mohammad Hafeez with both bat and ball, supported by Harry Brook's crucial innings and Shaheen Shah Afridi's lethal bowling, Lahore Qalandars emerged as deserving champions. This historic win at their home ground, the Gaddafi Stadium, will be remembered as a turning point for the franchise in the PSL.
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