Multan vs Lahore Qalandars: In a disappointing turn of events for Lahore Qalandars, the team faced their sixth consecutive loss in the ongoing Pakistan Super League season. The latest defeat came at the hands of Multan Sultans in a fiercely contested match at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Despite a valiant effort, Lahore Qalandars fell short of chasing down Multan’s challenging target of 215 runs, ending their innings with 154 runs in 17 overs. With this loss, Lahore Qalandars’ hopes of qualifying for the playoffs have been dashed, highlighting their struggles in the tournament.
MATCH DETAILS
- Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
- Toss: Multan Sultans won the toss and elected to bat first
- Series: Pakistan Super League (PSL)
- Season: 2023/24 (PSL 9)
- Matchday: 27 February 2024 – night (20-over match)
- Hours of play (local time):
- Start: 19:00
- First Session: 19:00-20:30
- Interval: 20:30-20:50
- Second Session: 20:50-22:20
Multan vs Lahore Qalandars: Lahore Suffer Sixth Consecutive Defeat, Crushing Playoff Hopes
In the 2024 Pakistan Super League season, Lahore Qalandars faced their sixth consecutive loss, effectively ruling out their chances of reaching the playoffs. The defeat came in a match against Multan Sultans at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Multan Sultans, batting first, set a formidable target of 215 runs, led by Usman Khan’s explosive innings and solid partnerships.
Despite a strong start, Lahore Qalandars fell short, finishing their innings with 154 runs in 17 overs. Key performances from Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, and Rassie van der Dussen showcased potential, but Multan’s bowlers, especially Usama Mir with six wickets, proved too strong. This loss underscores Lahore Qalandars’ struggles in the tournament and their inability to seize opportunities.
Multan Sultans Setting A Huge 215-run Target
Multan Sultans electrified the stadium after winning the toss and opting to bat first, unleashing an onslaught that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. Let’s delve into the thrilling highlights of their batting spectacle:
Explosive Start with a Twist: Multan Sultans’ journey began with a thrilling twist when Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled a peach of a delivery to dismiss Rizwan. It was a jaw-dropping moment as Afridi’s delivery nipped back sharply, piercing through Rizwan’s defenses to rattle the off-stump. The crowd erupted as the commentator exclaimed, “Gottim with an absolute jaffa!” This early setback didn’t deter Multan Sultans’ aggressive intent.
Powerplay Powerhouse: Multan Sultans stormed into action from the get-go, amassing a staggering 53 runs during the fiery powerplay phase of 6 overs. Reeza Hendricks set the stage on fire with a blazing 40 runs off 27 deliveries, showcasing his boundary-hitting prowess early on. Despite the setback with Rizwan’s departure, their aggressive momentum remained unshaken.
Usman Khan’s Explosive Show: The spotlight belonged to Usman Khan, who stole the show with a scintillating knock of 96 runs from just 55 balls. His bat was a thunderstorm, raining down 11 boundaries and 2 towering sixes. With a lightning-fast fifty off 31 balls, Usman Khan laid the foundation for a monumental total, leaving the opponents in awe.
Mid-order Magic: Multan Sultans’ middle order kept the adrenaline pumping with crucial contributions. Tayyab Tahir’s rapid 21 off 14 balls and Iftikhar Ahmed’s fireworks towards the end, smashing an unbeaten 40 off 18 balls, including 2 boundaries and 3 sixes, ensured the momentum never waned.
Partnership Parade: The Sultans orchestrated a symphony of partnerships throughout their innings. The dynamic duo of Reeza Hendricks and Usman Khan crafted a 50-run partnership in just 32 balls, laying a solid groundwork. Subsequent alliances, particularly between Usman Khan and Tayyab Tahir, further fortified their stronghold.
Explosive Grand Finale: Multan Sultans climaxed their innings with a breathtaking finale, plundering 50 runs in the last 3 overs. Although Usman Khan’s departure in the penultimate over raised eyebrows, Iftikhar Ahmed stepped up with aggressive strokes, ensuring a formidable total of 214/4 in their allotted 20 overs.
| Multan Sultans (20 overs maximum) | R | B | M | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BATTING | ||||||
| Mohammad Rizwan (c)† | 0 | 5 | – | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Reeza Hendricks | 40 | 27 | – | 6 | 1 | 148.14 |
| Usman Khan | 96 | 55 | – | 11 | 2 | 174.54 |
| Tayyab Tahir | 21 | 14 | – | 3 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Iftikhar Ahmed (not out) | 40 | 18 | – | 2 | 3 | 222.22 |
| Khushdil Shah (not out) | 3 | 2 | – | 0 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Extras | ||||||
| (lb 5, nb 1, w 8) | 14 | |||||
| TOTAL | 20 Ov | (RR: 10.70) | 214/4 | |||
| Did not bat | ||||||
| Usama Mir, Aftab Ibrahim, Faisal Akram, Mohammad Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani | ||||||
| Fall of wickets | ||||||
| 1-4 (Mohammad Rizwan, 0.5 ov) | ||||||
| 2-74 (Reeza Hendricks, 8.3 ov) | ||||||
| 3-151 (Tayyab Tahir, 14.6 ov) | ||||||
| 4-211 (Usman Khan, 19.4 ov) |
Bowling Battle: Despite facing a daunting target, Lahore Qalandars’ bowlers showcased resilience. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Carlos Brathwaite shone with crucial breakthroughs. However, they struggled to contain the Sultans’ rampant run-scoring spree, as boundaries flowed freely from the bats of Multan Sultans.
| BOWLING | O | M | R | W | ECON | 0s | 4s | 6s | WD | NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 4 | 0 | 39 | 2 | 9.75 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Zaman Khan | 4 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 10.75 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| George Linde | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 12.50 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Carlos Brathwaite | 4 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sikandar Raza | 2 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 10.00 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Salman Fayyaz | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jahandad Khan | 3 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 11.66 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
In essence, Multan Sultans staged a captivating batting spectacle, spearheaded by Usman Khan’s explosive innings, setting a daunting target of 215 runs for Lahore Qalandars. Their aggressive intent, coupled with steadfast partnerships and a sensational finish, erected a towering fortress for their bowlers to defend in the forthcoming innings.
Lahore Qalandars Failed To Perform Again
In the PSL 9 match between Multan and Lahore Qalandars, Multan posted a formidable target of 215 runs, which Lahore Qalandars failed to chase down. Let’s delve into the highlights of Lahore Qalandars’ innings:
- Powerplay 1: Lahore Qalandars started aggressively, scoring 55 runs for the loss of one wicket in the first six overs. Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman provided a solid start, contributing 50 runs in just 30 balls.
- Middle Overs: Despite the early wicket, Lahore Qalandars maintained the run rate. They reached the 100-run mark in 10.3 overs, showcasing a balanced approach between aggression and stability.
- Strategic Timeout: At the strategic timeout, Lahore Qalandars were at 131/6 in 14.2 overs. GF Linde was at the crease, trying to stabilize the innings after a couple of quick wickets.
- Late Overs: Lahore Qalandars pushed for a big total but lost wickets at regular intervals. They managed to score 150 runs in 16.1 overs but couldn’t capitalize on the platform laid by the top order.
- Individual Performances: Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with a brisk 31 off 21 balls, followed by contributions from Fakhar Zaman (23 off 16 balls) and Rassie van der Dussen (30 off 22 balls). Sikandar Raza provided a quick-fire cameo, scoring 17 runs off just 7 balls.
- Bowling Analysis: Multan’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings. Usama Mir was the pick of the bowlers, claiming six wickets for 40 runs in his four overs. Faisal Akram also made significant contributions, picking up two crucial wickets.
- Fall of Wickets: Lahore Qalandars lost wickets at regular intervals, which hampered their momentum. They suffered a collapse towards the end, losing their last four wickets for just 22 runs.
Despite some individual brilliance with the bat, Lahore Qalandars fell short of the target, managing to score 154 runs in their allotted 17 overs, showcasing Multan’s dominance with both bat and ball.