41-year-old former Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez played a superb knock of 37 runs (not out) off 19 balls to help his side Lahore Qalandars in reaching a big total of 199 runs losing four wickets in 20 overs, against Peshawar Zalmi, in a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match, that had taken place on February 2(Wednesday), in Karachi. Eventually, Qalanadars won the match by 29 runs.
Batting first, the Shaheen Afridi-led side started the innings well, after their opening batsmen- Abdullah Shafique (41 runs off 31 balls) and Fakhar Zaman (66 runs off 38 balls) displayed brilliant batting. Later, Hafeez along with Kamran Ghulam (30 runs off 23 balls) took their side to a comfortable position. Hafeez’s innings was comprised of 3 boundaries and a solitary six.
Rashid's batting display
Afghanistan spinner, Rashid Khan later, scored a quick-fire 22 off just 8 balls as he smashed 3 sixes in his innings.
For the Peshawar-side, their right-arm fast bowler Salman Irshad picked up two wickets as Usman Qadir and Hussain Talat bagged one wicket each.
In reply, Zalmi lost the first wicket of their innings on the third ball of their innings after opening batsman Hazratullah Zazai was dismissed for a duck. Skipper Afridi took the first wicket of the innings. Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal (41 runs off 24 balls) and Hussain Talat (15 runs off 24 balls) registered a crucial partnership of 62 runs off 47 balls but Zaman Khan provided a crucial breakthrough after he sent Talat back to the dressing room in the 9th over of the inning.
Haider Ali's efforts
Later, Haider Ali (49 runs off 34 balls) tried desperately to earn victory for his side but eventually Zalmi could reach a total of 170 runs losing 9 wickets in 20 overs.
Qalandars bowlers did manage to take wickets in quick succession but a little more disciplined bowling would have helped them in not conceding 19 extras.
Zaman Khan was the best bowler for Zalmi as he took three wickets. On the other hand, skipper Afridi and David Wiese scalped two wickets each.
With this victory, Qalandars find themselves at the second position with two victories and one defeat. Zalmi, on the other hand, are at fifth position with one victory.
