Lahore beats Peshawar to qualify for HBL PSL X playoffs

Fakhar Zaman blasted a fine fifty while left-arm pacer Salman Mirza took 4-31 to put Lahore Qalandars in the playoffs when they overwhelmed Peshawar Zalmi by 26 runs in the rain-curtailed game of the HBL PSL X at the Pindi Stadium in Rawalpindi on Sunday night.

In the do-or-die battle, which was reduced to 13 overs a side due to delayed start because of rain, Qalandars rode on a fine 36-ball 60 from Fakhar Zaman to post 149-8 in the allotted 13 overs.

Salman Mirza, playing his first game for Qalandars since representing them in the 2021 season, then ripped through Zalmi's batting and restricted them to 123-8.

Set to chase 150, Zalmi were never in the run. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Daniel Sams top-scored with 26 not out of just 12 balls, featuring two sixes and two fours. Ahmed Daniyal, known for fast bowling, made a 14-ball 24, hitting two sixes and two fours.

Abdul Samad belted a ten-ball 17 with two fours and skipper Babar Azam also failed to repeat his last game performance and fell for just a 13-ball 16 with three fours.

Salman Mirza, who also bowled Mohammad Haris (8) and Max Bryant (0) off his two successive deliveries, was ably backed by his skipper Shaheen Afridi who finished with 2-19 in two overs.

Earlier, poor fielding display from Peshawar Zalmi costed them as Lahore Qalandars piled-up 149-8.

Babar Azam's decision to opt to field first proved costly in the start as both openers Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem managed superb hitting in the four-over powerplay in which Lahore Qalandars were 58-1

Fakhar led the attack and Naeem was equally well on the other side. The duo shared 54 runs for the opening partnership in just 22 deliveries. It was Australian pacer Daniel Sams who removed Naeem, held by Abdul Samad at deep backward square-leg. Naeem, who was also dropped by stumper Mohammad Haris off Daniel Sams on 22, smacked three sixes and one four in his fiery ten-ball 22.

Fakhar went deep and was amply backed by brief cameos from Kusal Perera (17) and Asif Ali (18).

Fakhar, who was dropped on 48 and 58, smacked three sixes and sevens fours in his 36-ball 60 before being bowled by Daniel Sams in the 12th over. This was the fourth fifty from Fakhar in this season which came off 28 balls.

Asif Ali made a six-ball 18, also hitting pacer Ali Raza for two successive sixes in the tenth over which yielded 19 runs.

Earlier, Kusal Perera, who was dropped by Mohammad Ali off Ahmed Daniyal, chipped in with an eight-ball 17, featuring two fours and one six.

Zalmi bowled well in the death overs as in the last three overs they conceded 22 runs.

Besides Ali Raza's tenth over of the innings which produced 19 runs Qalandars also produced a couple of more massive overs. In the second over of the innings from pacer Mohammad Ali, Qalandars scored 21 runs. Ali was hit by Fakhar Zaman for two massive sixes and Naeem then also smacked him for another six in the same over.

In the third over of the innings bowled by Luke Wood Qalandars produced 18 runs. Fakhar Zaman and Naeem hit the left-armer for two fours each.

Ahmed Daniyal was the most impressive bowler who got 2-22 in his quota of three overs. Daniel Sams (2-28 in three overs) and Ali Raza (2-26 in 2 overs) also made good effort on a pitch which was full of runs.

Lahore Qalandars finished with 11 points from ten matches. Zalmi ended at the fifth spot with eight points from ten matches.

On Monday, Islamabad United will face Karachi Kings in the last league game at the same venue.

Both teams have already qualified for the playoffs.