Qalandars thrash United to qualify for PSL 10 final

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars qualified for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 final after defeating Islamabad United by 95 runs in the Qualifier 2 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Lahore Qalandars will now face Quetta Gladiators in the PSL 10 final on Sunday, May 25.

The home side bowled out the defending champions for 107 in 15.1 overs after posting 202/8 on the scoreboard.

Chasing 203, the United batting lineup faltered as Mohammad Shahzad was castled by Shaheen Afridi for a duck in the first over.

Sahibzada Farhan (3) was bowled by Salman Mirza in the following over to leave the United reeling at 3/2 in 1.2 overs.

Rassie van der Dussen became Mirza’s second victim in the game after scoring just seven runs.

Salman Mirza removed Imad Wasim (8) in the sixth over as Islamabad United were reduced to 33/4.

Salman Agha and skipper Shadab Khan then attempted to rebuild the innings and take on the chase, taking their side to 72 in 9.4 overs.

However, Rishad Hossain struck in the 10th over to remove Agha, who scored 33 runs off 26 balls.

He then removed Shadab Khan (26) and James Neesham (8) in the 12th over to further dent United’s chances for a comeback in the game.

Neesham’s dismissal left the defending champions at 95/7 in 12 overs.

Naseem Shah was run out without scoring a run, while Tymal Mills (7) was castled by Shaheen Afridi.

Haider Ali (4) was the last batter to get dismissed as Afridi picked up his third wicket.

Afridi, Mirza and Hossain took three wickets each as Lahore Qalandars wrapped up Islamabad United’s innings in 15.1 overs.

Batting first, Mohammad Naeem and Kusal Perera hit fifties as Qalandars set a 203-run target for United in the Qualifier 2 of the PSL 10.

The home side lost in-form Fakhar Zaman early in the innings after he fell to Tymal Mills in the second over, after making 12 runs.

Abdullah Shafique and Naeem then stitched a 70-run partnership to take Qalandars to 83 in 8.5 overs.

Mohammad Naeem was removed by Imad Wasim after he made a 25-ball 50, with the help of seven fours and two sixes.

Shafique scored 25 before falling to James Neesham in the 12th over, with the scoreboard showing 103/3 in 11.4 overs.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa then joined Kusal Perera, and the two took Qalandars to 151, before the former was castled by Salman Irshad on 22.

Asif Ali made 15 before becoming Irshad’s second victim in the game.

Perera was castled by Mills after a well-made 35-ball 61, which took Lahore Qalandars to197/6 in 19.2 overs.

Shakib Al Hasan fell to Mills for a duck while Rishad Hossain was run out for five as Qalandars finished at 202/8 in their 20 overs.

For Islamabad United, Tymal Mills picked up three wickets, while Salman Irshad bagged two wickets.

Imad Wasim and James Neesham chipped in with a wicket each.

Playing XIs

Islamabad United: Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Haider Ali, Agha Salman, Shadab Khan (c), James Neesham, Imad Wasim, Tymal Mills, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Shahzad, and Salman Irshad.

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Kusal Perera (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Asif Ali, Shakib Al Hasan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Rishad Hossain, and Salman Mirza.

The defending champions were left to play Qualifier 2 after they lost Qualifier 1 to Quetta Gladiators, who progressed to the final.

On the other hand, Qalandars defeated Karachi Kings in the PSL 10 Eliminator a day earlier at the same venue.

It is worth noting here that Islamabad United have played three PSL finals and won each time, while Lahore Qalandars qualified three times and won twice.