“Lahore Qalandars Beat Peshawar Zalmi by 40 Runs in PSL 2023 Match”
Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen helps give his side a promising start
Shaheen-led Lahore Qalandars triumphed over Babar-led Peshawar Zalmi by 40 runs in the 15th match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore today after Zalmi failed to chase the mammoth target of 242 runs set for them.
Qalandars, who opted to bat first, posted a mammoth target of 242 runs 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 Shaheen 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.
