Lahore Qalandars crowned champions of PSL 10

Lahore Qalandars defeated Quetta Gladiators and won the Pakistan Super League (PSL) trophy for the third time, becoming only the second team after Islamabad United to reach this milestone.

Chasing a big target of 202 runs, Lahore started their innings with an aggressive approach. Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman gave the team a solid start with a 39-run opening stand. However, Fakhar was dismissed by Abrar Ahmed after scoring 11 runs off 10 balls, which included two boundaries.

Abdullah Shafique came in to join Naeem and the pair quickly built a strong partnership by hitting regular boundaries. Naeem looked in great form as he neared a half-century in PSL 10 but was dismissed by Faheem Ashraf after scoring 47 runs off 27 balls, which included one four and six sixes. This ended a 46-run partnership and Lahore stood at 85 for 2 after 8.4 overs.

Abdullah Shafique continued to play well and built a 30-run stand with Kusal Perera, who also added important runs as Lahore chased the target. The partnership was broken by Usman Tariq when he got Shafique out. Shafique had scored 41 off 28 balls, including four boundaries and a six. At that point, Lahore were 115 for 3 in 12.3 overs.

Perera and Bhanuka Rajapaksa continued the chase but faced some pressure as Quetta’s bowlers bowled dot balls, causing the required run rate to rise above 10. In the 17th over, Mohammad Amir took his first wicket by dismissing Rajapaksa, who had made 14 off 16 balls. Lahore were 145 for 4 in 16.4 overs.

Sikandar Raza then came to bat and hit consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Amir, which helped reduce the pressure, with 47 runs needed from the final 18 balls. At the same time, Kusal Perera scored a brilliant half-century off just 28 balls and kept the momentum going.

In the final over, with just 13 runs needed, Sikandar Raza hit a four and a six to win the match for Lahore with one ball to spare.

Earlier, Quetta had won the toss and chose to bat first. But they suffered early losses as captain Saud Shakeel was dismissed by Shaheen Afridi after scoring only 4 runs from 6 balls, leaving the team at 17-1 in 2.4 overs. In the next over, Finn Allen was dismissed by Salman Mirza for 12 runs off 11 balls.

Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz then formed a 38-run partnership to steady Quetta’s innings. Rossouw was looking dangerous but was removed by Sikandar Raza for a quick 22 off 11 balls. At that point, Quetta were 58 for 3 in 6.2 overs.

Fernando later scored 29 runs off 22 balls before being dismissed by Rishad Hossain, who picked up his first wicket with the score at 125 for 4 in 12.5 overs.

Dinesh Chandimal then joined Nawaz and hit two sixes off Sikandar Raza in the 17th over, helping the team reach 170. Shaheen Afridi returned to bowl and got Chandimal out for 22 off 13 balls. Two balls later, he also dismissed Hasan Nawaz, who had made a brilliant 76 off 43 balls, bringing Quetta down to 172 for 6 in 17.5 overs.

Faheem Ashraf played an important short innings in the final over, scoring 28 runs off just 8 balls with multiple boundaries, helping Quetta reach over 200 runs. He was dismissed on the last ball of the innings.