Defending champions Lahore Qalandars put an end to their six-match losing streak in the 23rd match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2024 season with a 17-run victory over Islamabad United at Pindi Cricket Stadium.
Lahore’s bowlers dominated the game, consistently taking wickets while defending a target of 163 runs. They got off to a strong start when Shaheen Afridi dismissed Alex Hales for a duck in the first over. Agha Salman and Shadab Khan followed suit quickly, leaving Islamabad United struggling.
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Despite a brief partnership between Azam Khan and Faheem Ashraf, Lahore’s bowlers kept the pressure on. Naseem Shah’s quickfire cameo kept Islamabad in the game briefly, but Shaheen Afridi’s milestone 100th PSL wicket ensured Lahore’s victory. Zaman Khan was the pick of the bowlers for Lahore, claiming 4 wickets for 37 runs, while Shaheen Afridi took 2 wickets for 32 runs.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars posted a competitive total thanks to Rassie van der Dussen’s half-century. Despite losing early wickets, including openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman, van der Dussen anchored the innings. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s cameo and contributions from Sikandar Raza and Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti helped Lahore reach a respectable total. In the end, David Wiese’s unbeaten cameo further boosted their score.
In the bowling department, Rumman Raees led the charge for Islamabad United with figures of 2 wickets for 19 runs, supported by other bowlers like Naseem Shah, Hunain Shah, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf, and Shadab Khan.
This victory marked a significant turnaround for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL 2024 season, breaking their losing streak and boosting their morale for upcoming matches.