LAHORE: Sikandar Raza’s all-round brilliance powered Lahore Qalandars to a dominant 88-run victory over table-toppers Islamabad United in the 19th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Chasing a daunting 210-run target, Islamabad United crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for just 121 in 16.5 overs.
The defeat ended Islamabad United’s 10-match winning streak in the PSL and marked their first loss of the season.
The defending champions started poorly in the chase losing in-form batter Sahibzada Farhan (9) in the second over.
After an early wicket, Salman Agha and Andries Gous steadied the innings with a brisk 69-run stand, taking United to 80 in 9.3 overs. However, Qalandars struck back with quick wickets, leaving the chasing team three down for 87.
Salman was the first one to go, bowled by Sikandar Raza after a gutsy 36 off 25 deliveries, laced with three sixes and two fours. Azam Khan, who had a brief stay, was trapped lbw by Haris Rauf.
Once the partnership was broken, Islamabad was unable to recover and the whole team was bundled. Gous remained the top scorer with 41 runs off 27 balls, which included two fours and three sixes.
Haris Rauf was the standout bowler for Lahore Qalandars, taking four wickets for 31 runs in 3.1 overs, while Sikandar Raza also impressed with three wickets.
Earlier, cameos from Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza propelled Lahore Qalandars to a massive total against Islamabad United.
Put in to bat first, Lahore Qalandars posted 209 for the loss of six wickets in their allocated 20 overs.
The home side had a quiet start as they could only manage 13 runs in their first three overs; however, emerging batter Mohammad Naeem smashed three consecutive fours off Ben Dwarshuis over which broke the shackles.
Qalandars ended their powerplay at 56-1, losing Naeem in the process. He was run out after scoring 25 off 22 balls laced with four fours and a six.
Despite the wicket, Lahore Qalandars continued the momentum with a 47-run partnership between Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman, who was stumped off Imad Wasim’s bowling after a brisk 44 of 30 balls, featuring five fours and two sixes.
The wicket brought United back into the game as Lahore Qalandars could only manage to score 18 in the next three overs, losing Shafique in the process as well, after scoring 22 off 17 balls.
Meanwhile, Daryl Mitchell and Sam Billings came to rescue the Qalandars’ ship, forging a 145-run stand, bringing the score to 145 in 16.1 overs. The partnership was broken with Mitchell’s wicket, who went after scoring 28 off 18 with the help of two sixes and two fours.
However, Sikandar Raza and Sam Billings’ sublime knocks took them to a huge total. Billings’ blistering 38* off 17 deliveries featured four sixes and one four, while Raza struck three sixes and three fours in his 39 off 17.
For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim was the standout bowler, taking 2 wickets for 26 runs in his four overs, while Jason Holder also claimed two wickets but conceded 54 runs in the same number of overs.
PLAYING XIs
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, Asif Ali, Tom Curran, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi
Islamabad United: Andries Gous, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Imad Wasim, Haider Ali, Jason Holder, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Ben Dwarshuis, Naseem Shah, Hunain Shah
