Lahore Qalandars beat Multan Sultans by 1 run in a thriller PSL 8 opening match

Lahore Qalandars beat Multan Sultans by just 1 run in a thriller opening match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

The final over saw Zaman Khan giving an unforgettable performance to defend 15 runs.

Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood managed to put Multan Sultans in a commanding position with a 100-run partnership for the first wicket.

Rizwan scored his 13th fifty of the PSL against the defending champions MS.

Qalanders finally found a breakthrough via Hussain Talat, who sent Masood, who scored 35 off 31 balls, back to the pavilion.

Later, Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled out Rizwan reducing the home side to 131-2.

After sending the opening pair back to the stands, the Qalandars skipper Shaheen Afridi and his bowling partner Haris Rauf brought their side back into to the game.

The evening saw left-arm bowled a sensational fourth over.

South Africa’s David Miller, who is renowned for his power-hitting prowess, was bowled up by Rauf on a fiery yorker, for 25 runs.

Put to bat first, the defending champions Qalandars managed to put on a total of 176 runs on the scoreboard in 20 overs, thanks to Fakhar’s 66 runs off 42 balls.

The left-handed batter also completed his 2000 runs in the PSL.

Mirza Tahir Baig scored 36 runs off 26 balls before getting out to Akeal Hossain.

The wicketkeeper-batter  Shai Hope hit 19 runs off 17 balls.

The all-rounder Sikandar Raza (19) and Hussain Talat (20) put on a 39-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

For Multan Sultans, Usama and Ihsanullah picked two wickets each, while Akeal secured a single scalp.

Playing XI

Multan Sultans: Muhammad Rizwan, Shan Masood, Usman Khan, David Miller, Kieron Pollard, Khushdil Shah, Akeal Hossain, Usama Mir, Sameen Gul, Shahnawaz Dahani, Ihsanullah

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Shai Hope, Kamran Ghulam, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, Liam Dawson, David Wiese, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan