In the 20th match of the 2023 Pakistan Super League (PSL), Lahore Qalandars registered an emphatic 21-run win over Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 04 (Saturday). England's wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings stared for Lahore with the bat while ace Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan bowled a stifling spell with the ball.
After electing to bat first, Lahore weathered a rough start after opener Fakhar Zaman departed for a three-ball duck in the first over of the game. Mirza Baig (17 runs off 11 balls) and Abdullah Shafique (48 runs off 35 balls) joined forces for a 50-run alliance for the second wicket. Billings, who walked out to bat at No.4 after Baig's departure, played a terrific knock and stitched a 69-run stand with Shafique for the third wicket.
Billings scored 54 runs off 35 balls with the help of six fours and two sixes before Kieron Pollard sent the Englishman back to the pavilion. Lahore failed to capitalise on the platform set by Shafique and Billings. They kept losing wickets during the later stage of the innings as they made an attempt to up the ante. Lahore's innings came to an end after they scored 180/9 in 20 overs.
Pollard, Anwar Ali and Ihsanullah bagged two wickets each while Sameen Gul chipped in with a wicket.
In reply, Mohammad Rizwan (30 runs off 27 balls) and Shan Masood (19 runs off 20 balls) gave Multan a decent start by combining for 48 runs for the opening wicket. Once the two Pakistan internationals were dismissed, Multan's run chase fell off the tracks as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Pollard unleashed some lusty hits lower down the order but the explosive batter's cameo of 39 runs off 28 balls went in vain. Multan could only score 159/7 in 20 overs and as a result, lost the game by 21 runs.
Rashid was the star for Lahore with the ball. The leg-spinner finished the game with figures of 3/15 in four overs. Zaman Khanm Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza and Hussain Talat bagged a wicket each.
ALSO READ:
Watch: Hasan Ali, Rassie van der Dussen combine to pull off 'catch of the year' in PSL
PSL: Islamabad United ride on Azam Khan's pyrotechnics to edge 2020-champions in high-scoring thriller
