PSL 2023: Shaheen bowls Lahore Qalandars to victory against Peshawar Zalmi

Lahore Qalandars defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 40 runs in the 15th fixture of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore today, after Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi gave Qalandars the best start they could get.

Opting to bat first, Qalandars posted a mammoth 242-run target before restricting Zalmi to 201 runs in 20 overs, thanks to an exceptional batting display from Fakhar and Abdullah Shafique and a five-wicket haul from Shaheen.

In reply to the big total, Zalmi had a good partnership from Saim Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore after losing both openers.

Shaheen gave Qalandars the best start they could get against Zalmi. The skipper bowled out Mohammad Haris with a sensational yorker on the second ball of his first over.

The left-arm pacer struck again in his second over as he cleaned up Zalmi's skipper Babar Azam with a magnificent in-swinging delivery. Babar had to depart after scoring only seven runs.

After Babar's departure, Saim Ayub and Tom Kohler-Cadmore put on a magnificent 91-run partnership off just 44 balls.

However, Cadmore was dismissed by Haris Rauf after he smashed a blistering 55 runs off just 23 balls.

The next batter to fall was Saim, who tried to take on Rashid Khan but was caught by Abdullah Shafique. The left-handed batter scored crucial 51 runs in 34 balls.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa (24) and Rovman Powell (20) then stitched a 39-run partnership, but the Sri Lankan batter was sent packing by Zaman Khan, reducing Zalmi to 166-5.

Zaman struck again in the same over as he bowled out Powell with a slow delivery.

Shaheen claimed his third wicket in his third over. He sent Wahab Riaz back to the pavilion for a duck.

The left-armer claimed another in his last over, toppling Saad Masood's wicket with a fiery delivery.

Shaheen completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing James Neesham (12), who tried to take on the pacer but ended up getting caught behind.

For Qalandars, Shaheen claimed five wickets, while Zaman took one wicket. Haris Rauf and Rashid also secured a scalp each.

Earlier, Abdullah and Fakhar starred as Qalandars set a mammoth 242-run target against Zalmi.

Abdullah and Fakhar stitched a massive 120-run partnership for the second wicket to help Qalandars overcome the early setback and take control against Zalmi.

Abdullah, who is making his first appearance in PSL 2023, wreaked havoc as he smashed 75 runs off only 41 balls. The right-handed batter hit five boundaries and the same number of maximums.

However, the 23-year-old was dismissed by Wahab, who claimed his second wicket.

But the onslaught continued as Sam Billings didn't take long to settle and started hitting boundaries with Fakhar.

Fakhar was extraordinary against Zalmi. The left-handed batter hit boundaries and maximum at will to score 96 runs off just 45 balls, laced up with three boundaries and 10 maximums. He fell to Rovman Powell in the 18th over.

The wicket-keeper batter, Billings, scored an unbeaten 47 runs off just 23 balls, including five boundaries and three maximums.

Wahab Riaz gave Zalmi an early breakthrough by dismissing Qalandars' opener Tahir Baig. The opening batter scored only five runs off seven balls.

For Zalmi, Wahab claimed two wickets, while Powell secured a scalp.

Playing XIs:

Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Sam Billings, Abdullah Shafique, Hussain Talat, Sikandar Raza, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Zaman Khan

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris, Saim Ayub, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Rovman Powell, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jimmy Neesham, Wahab Riaz, Salman Irshad, Arshad Iqbal, Saad Masood.