-
-
-
Loading
Loading
LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars produced a clinical all-round performance to register a commanding 20-run victory over Multan Sultans in a rain-reduced 13-over HBL Pakistan Super League match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
Chasing a daunting 186, Multan Sultans stayed in the game through fighting contributions from Shan Masood and Ashton Turner but ultimately fell short, managing 165 for 5 in their allotted 13 overs.
The result was set up by a blistering Lahore batting display, led by Mohammad Naeem’s explosive half-century and a destructive opening stand with Parvez Hossain Emon.
Sultans elected to bowl first, perhaps hoping the early moisture and shortened format would favour their attack.
Instead, the decision proved costly as Qalandars’ openers launched a ferocious assault from the outset.
Mohammad Ismail’s opening over set the tone for Sultans’ woes, leaking 26 runs including two sets of five wides and three boundaries.
Naeem, in particularly aggressive mood, punished anything loose with powerful drives and pulls, while Parvez provided the perfect foil with clean striking and quick running.
The pair added 86 runs for the first wicket in just 5.1 overs, an extraordinary opening stand that left Multan reeling.
Naeem raced to 60 off 28 balls (four fours and as many sixes) with a swaggering display of power-hitting, while Emon smashed 45 off 19 deliveries, including five towering sixes.
Their partnership was marked by fearless strokeplay and relentless boundary-hunting that pushed the scoring rate above 17 runs per over in the early stages.
Even after Parvez’s dismissal — caught at deep mid-wicket off Ismail while attempting another big shot — Lahore maintained the momentum.
Abdullah Shafique joined the fray and continued the carnage with a brisk 33 off 14 balls (three fours and two sixes), including a monstrous six off Arafat Minhas. Naeem brought up his fifty in style before falling to a googly from Faisal Akram, caught at deep mid-wicket.
At 156 for 3 after 10 overs, the Qalandars were in full control. Rubin Hermann fell cheaply to Peter Siddle, but Sikandar Raza and Asif Ali chipped in with useful contributions.
Asif was run out for eight, while Raza remained not out on 13 off eight balls, striking two late boundaries. The innings featured 23 extras, including 14 wides that highlighted Multan’s wayward bowling.
Siddle was the pick of the Sultans’ bowlers, returning economical figures of 1-26 with clever variations and yorkers. Ismail claimed two wickets but leaked 47 runs in three overs, while the spinners — Mohammad Nawaz, Faisal and Arafat — were mercilessly punished, collectively conceding runs at over 15 an over.
Chasing a revised target of 186, Multan Sultans needed to score at nearly 14.5 runs per over — a monumental task against a potent Lahore attack.
Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi set a disciplined tone with the new ball, conceding just seven runs in the first over. Ubaid Shah and Mustafizur Rahman maintained the pressure with sharp bouncers and well-disguised slower balls. Steven Smith struck a couple of early boundaries but was bowled for nine by a perfect Shaheen delivery that clipped the top of off-stump.
Josh Philippe lasted only two deliveries before holing out to Shaheen at mid-off. Sahibzada Farhan provided some spark with 24 off 15 balls, including two sixes off the Lahore skipper, but Mustafizur removed him with a slower ball caught at long-on.
Shan then took charge in a dazzling display of timing and placement. The left-hander smashed 44 off just 18 balls, including seven boundaries and a six, repeatedly finding the mid-wicket and cover regions with wristy strokes. Ashton Turner complemented him well, rotating the strike and clearing the ropes when the opportunity arose.
Despite their best efforts, the asking rate continued to climb relentlessly. Mustafizur struck a crucial blow by trapping Masood lbw with a full-toss for 44. Turner battled on bravely, reaching a well-deserved fifty off 22 balls with two fours and five sixes, launching several clean hits down the ground and over midwicket.
Arafat added late entertainment with a quick 25 off 11 balls, including two sixes, but Raza had him caught in the deep in the final over. Turner remained unbeaten on 52 off 22, but it was not enough as Multan finished 20 runs short.
Mustafizur was the most successful bowler for Lahore with 2-37 in three overs, his cutters proving particularly effective in the middle phase. Shaheen Shah, Ubaid and Raza each claimed one wicket, while Haris Rauf and the rest maintained tight lines under pressure.
The victory highlighted Lahore Qalandars’ batting firepower and bowling discipline in testing conditions. Their openers’ explosive start created an insurmountable platform, while the bowlers executed their plans with precision. For Multan Sultans, the defeat exposed vulnerabilities in their bowling resources and execution under scoreboard pressure, despite the spirited resistance shown by Shan and Turner.
Lahore will draw immense confidence from this dominant home performance, while Multan will need to regroup swiftly and address their bowling depth ahead of their next outing.
Scoreboard
LAHORE QALANDARS:
Mohammad Naeem c Arafat b Faisal 60
Parvez Hossain c Nawaz b Ismail 45
Abdullah Shafique c Smith b Ismail 33
Rubin Hermann b Siddle 3
Sikandar Raza not out 13
Asif Ali run out 8
Shaheen Shah Afridi not out 0
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-3, NB-2, W-14) 23
TOTAL (for five wickets, 13 overs) 185
DID NOT BAT: Haseebullah Khan, Haris Rauf, Ubaid Shah, Mustafizur Rahman
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-86 (Parvez), 2-144 (Abdullah), 3-156 (Naeem), 4-164 (Hermann), 5-177 (Asif)
BOWLING: Ismail 3-0-47-2 (3w), Siddle 3-0-26-1 (1w), Wasim 3-0-33-0 (2w), Nawaz 1-0-19-0, Faisal 2-0-31-1, Arafat 1-0-22-0 (2nb)
MULTAN SULTANS:
Sahibzada Farhan c Abdullah b Mustafizur 24
Steven Smith b Shaheen 9
Josh Philippe c Shaheen b Ubaid 1
Shan Masood lbw b Mustafizur 44
Ashton Turner not out 52
Arafat Minhas c (sub) b Raza 25
Mohammad Nawaz not out 1
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-6, NB-1) 9
TOTAL (for four wickets, 13 overs) 165
DID NOT BAT: Peter Siddle, Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Ismail, Faisal Akram
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-17 (Smith), 2-18 (Philippe), 3-50 (Sahibzada), 4-100 (Shan), 5-157 (Arafat)
BOWLING: Shaheen 3-0-32-1 (1w), Ubaid 3-0-34-1, Mustafizur 3-0-37-2 (1w), Raza 2-0-2, Haris 2-0-26-0
RESULT: Lahore Qalandars won by 20 runs.
Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2026
if you want to get more information about this news then click on below link
More Detail