Even though Bangladesh’s three star cricketers were included in the team, it was a matter of interest to see how many of them would be in the Lahore Qalandars’ playing XI. However, it was also conceivable that they would not all play together. Even though they formed an XI with experienced all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, the pace-based Lahore did not use him in the right way. As a result, the former Bangladesh captain bowled only 1 over. After Shakib took 1 wicket for 4 runs, Lahore also kept their hopes of reaching the final alive with a big win.
The rest of the PSL is being played in the post-conflict situation at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Where Shaheen Afridi’s Lahore faced Karachi Kings in the Eliminator yesterday (Thursday). Of course, Shakib lost the toss and went out to field in the winning match. Batting first against them, Karachi scored 190 runs for 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Which Lahore has overcome with 6 wickets and 8 balls in hand.
Shakib and Mohammad Naeem were in the spin department in Lahore’s XI that day along with 4 pacers. It was expected that the spinners might not get a chance in the crowd of Shaheen-Rauf. But no one thought that Shahin would take it out on Shakib. The former world’s best all-rounder got a chance to bowl 1 over. He took 1 wicket for 4 runs. After that, the Lahore captain did not bring him back. He gave 3 overs to local spinner Naeem, but he did not do badly. He took 1 wicket for 15 runs.
In the beginning, Lahore’s bowlers could not make much of an advantage. Karachi captain David Warner was aggressive from the beginning. As a result, they took care of the pace of Shaheen-Salman-Zaman and scored 70 runs for 1 wicket in 6 overs of the power play. When Shakib was brought in to bowl in the seventh over, he brought a breakthrough along with controlled bowling. After that, although Lahore had control of the match in the middle, Rauf-Shahin gave away runs with both hands towards the end. For Karachi, captain Warner scored 72 runs in 52 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes. Rauf took the highest 3 wickets.
Chasing a target of 191 runs, opener Naeem quickly returned, but Fakhar Zaman and Abdullah Shafiq did not let Lahore worry. After Fakhar returned to 47 runs off 28 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes, Shafiq, Kusal Perera and Bhanuka Rajapaksa pulled the team back. Abdullah Shafiq scored 65 runs off 35 balls with 3 fours and 5 sixes. In addition, the two Sri Lankans Perera scored 30 and Rajapaksa scored 23 runs, ensuring Lahore’s victory with 6 wickets and 8 balls in hand.
Less than 24 hours after that match, Lahore will play in the second qualifier of the PSL today (Friday). Where their opponent is Shadab Khan’s Islamabad United, who lost in the first qualifier. The two teams will face each other at 8:30 PM Bangladesh time with the aim of reaching the final.
