Lahore Qalandars defeated Multan Sultans by one run in a nail-biting Pakistan Super League (PSL) final, becoming the first team to successfully defend their title and grabbing the trophy at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
The Multan Sultans came incredibly close to meeting their challenging 201-run target but ultimately fell short by one run.
The Qalandars are the first PSL champion to successfully defend their crown.
GREATEST. FINAL. EVER.@lahoreqalandars become the first team to successfully defend their HBLPSL title 🏆#HBLPSL8 | #SabSitarayHumaray | #MSvLQ pic.twitter.com/hskDWqKZRr
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 18, 2023
After dismissing Usman Khan, the opener, in the fourth over of the inning, David Wiese made the crucial breakthrough during the run chase. In 12 balls, the right-hander scored 18 runs.
Despite the early defeat, Rilee Rossouw and Muhammad Rizwan put together a remarkable partnership of 64 runs in 42 balls to ensure that the Multans maintained the requisite run rate.
But Rossouw was cleaned up by Rashid Khan just when the batter threatened to take the game away from the Qalandars. In 32 balls, the South African scored 52 runs.
David Wiese had to perform some outstanding fielding in order to successfully complete Rashid’s catch. He first caught the ball, maintained his balance, and then flicked it back into the air as he crossed the rope.
Shaheen returned in his second stint to secure the wicket of the dangerous Kieron Pollard after giving up 34 runs in his first two overs. In 16 balls, the Windies all-rounder scored 19 runs.
Shaheen took three wickets in his final over as well, giving his team a good chance to win the game.
To ensure a dramatic conclusion to the game, Haris Rauf gave up 22 runs in the penultimate over.
Nonetheless, Zaman Khan maintained his composure to lead his team to victory in the game decisive over.
The Qalandars had earlier amassed 200-6 in their allocated 20 overs.
The Qalandars got off to a quick start, scoring 34 runs in the opening three overs, but opener Tahir Baig was eventually out by Ihsanullah with a precise short ball. In 18 balls, the right-hander scored 30 runs.
Once Lahore reached 82-1 at the midway point, the wicket and some solid bowling enabled the Sultans to stop the flow of runs.
When Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafique sought to speed up their scoring, Multan destroyed their plans with four quick wickets, scoring 57 runs in 38 balls for the second wicket.
Usama Mir, a leg-spinner, took three wickets in his first two overs, including Zaman (39), Sam Billings (9), and Ahsan Hafeez (0).
Sikandar Raza (1) was dismissed by Khushdil Shah in the meantime with a ball that slid past the infield and slammed into the batter’s stumps.
Shafique also picked up the pace at the conclusion of his innings and finished with 65 runs in 40 balls. Eight fours and two sixes were struck by him.
Usama Mir, who had figures of 3-24 in three overs, was the Sultans’ preferred bowler.
The Sultans’ victory over the Qalandars in the qualifier secured their place in the championship game. Lahore, however, defeated Peshawar Zalmi to get to the final game.
