PSL 8: Fakhar, Rashid storm Qalandars to record victory over United in lopsided contest
Cricket
Qalandars register largest margin of victory in PSL's history
RAWALPINDI (Web Desk) – Fakhar Zaman’s whirlwind 57-ball 115 and Rashid Khan’s brilliance stormed Lahore Qalandars to record 119-run victory against Islamabad United in the 26th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
ISLAMABAD UNITED'S INNINGS
Chasing a target of 227 runs, the United were bundled out for 107, paving way for the Qalandars to register largest margin of victory in the history of the marquee tournament.
The United only combined for one solid partnership and that too between openers Alex Hales and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The partnership had flown along to 32 off 23 deliveries.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 15-ball 15, hitting one boundary and one six.
Alex Hales scored 16-ball 18, clobbering a six. Hasan Ali also scored 13-ball 18, lacing with one boundary and two sixes.
Colin Munro (11), Shadab Khan (12), Mubasir Khan (3), Asif Ali (7), Faheem Ashraf (4), Mohammad Wasim (8) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (0) failed to show any significant resistance.
Rashid Khan spearheaded the Qalandars’ bowling attack who once again proved his worth. He picked up four wickets, bowling an economical spell and conceded merely 21 runs.
Rashid was ably supported by rest of the bowlers. Zaman Khan (2-17) and Haris Rauf (2-16) scooped up two wickets apiece. David Wiese (1-17) took a scalp.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (0-18) and Sikandar Raza (0-14) remained wicketless.
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) March 9, 2023
LAHORE QALANDARS' INNINGS
After opting to bat first, Fakhar Zaman’s fiery 57-ball 115 fired Lahore Qalandars’ total to mammoth 226-5 against Islamabad United in the domestic premium tournament.
The Qalandars faced early setback, when Abdullah Shafique was undone by United frontline bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi.
But it was amazing partnership by Fakhar Zaman and Kamran Ghulam that paved way for the Qalandars’ staggering total. The duo stitched 122 run-partnership of just 62, putting the United’s bowlers to test.
Fakhar clobbered eight fours and eight towering sixes in 57 balls to smash blistering 115.
Kamran Ghulam was brilliant for his 30-ball 41, studded with four boundaries and two sixes.
Sam Billings looked belligerent for his 22-ball 32.
Rashid Khan scored an unconquered quickfire 5-ball 15, smashing two fours and one gigantic six.
David Wiese hammered a big six on his first bowl before he was befuddled by Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Sikandar Raza remained unbeaten on 4-ball 1.
There was nothing special to talk about the United’ bowling, with the exception of Fazalhaq Farooqi (4-40), who scooped up three wickets.
Hasan Ali (1-33) and Mohammad Wasim (1-48) took a scalp each.
Faheem Ashraf (0-43), Mubasir Khan (0-25) and Shadab Khan (0-32) remained wicketless.
— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) March 9, 2023
TOSS
Lahore Qalandars opted to bat first against Islamabad United in the 26th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) March 9, 2023
Lahore Qalandars
Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Sam Billings (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, Rashid Khan, David Wiese, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan
— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) March 9, 2023
Islamabad United
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mubasir Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Hassan Ali, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
— Islamabad United (@IsbUnited) March 9, 2023
