Sam Billings and Abdullah Shafique’s 69-run third-wicket partnership, along with Rashid Khan’s three wickets, helped the reigning champion Lahore Qalandars defeat Multan Sultans and advance once more to the PSL playoffs.
Fakhar Zaman was out for a duck in the first over for Qalandars after they decided to bat. A 49-run stand between Mirza Baig and Shafique helped rebuild the innings after they joined forces to boost the tempo by taking Khushdil Shah for 17 runs in the second over.
As Mohammad Rizwan took an outstanding catch behind the stumps, Ihsanullah made his breakthrough by taking Baig’s wicket. Billings then joined Shafique at the crease. On their journey to their dominant position, the pair continued to ensure that they often hit boundaries.
In the 13th over, Kieron Pollard struck to get rid of Shafique for 48, and then in the following over, he struck again to get rid of Billings just as the England batter achieved his half-century.
Following his removal, Qalandars lost wickets at regular intervals, but they did not allow the run rate to significantly decline.
The Sultans’ bowlers were unable to stop the flow of runs as the Qalandars continued to lose wickets often despite some crucial contributions from Sikandar Raza (14), David Wiese (15), and Shaheen Shah Afridi (9) that helped the team reach 180 runs in their allotted overs.
Before being bowled out in the final over, captain Shaheen Shah Afridi hit two boundaries, leading his team to a respectable 180 for 9.
Anwar Ali, Ihsanullah, Pollard, and Abbas Afridi secured two wickets, and Sameen Gul was able to secure one.
Multan Sultans, on the other hand, started the chase slowly. In the eighth over, Shan Masood was bowled by Zaman Khan for a 20-ball 19. In the tenth over, Rizwan was then pinned in front by Raza.
Then it was Rashid’s turn to shine; after removing Usama Mir and David Miller with a double strike in the eleventh over, he dismissed Rilee Rossouw in the thirteenth.
By the end of the fifteenth over, the necessary run rate had risen to over 15, and Sultans had trouble keeping up. Even though Pollard did hit two sixes and a four in the final over, the Multan Sultans had already lost by 21 runs at that point and it was too late.
Lahore has won five straight home games, a PSL first, while Qalandars bowlers have successfully defended totals in six games.
After defeating Multan Sultans by 21 runs on Saturday, defending champion Lahore Qalandars became the first team to make it to the Pakistan Super League playoffs.
Multan retained second place and led Islamabad United in net run rate after facing its third defeat in seven games.
Multan Sultans 159 for 7 (Pollard 39, Rashid 3-15) were defeated by Lahore Qalandars 180 for 9 (Billings 54, Shafique 48, and Ihsanullah 2-33) by 21 runs.