Lahore Qalandars crush Islamabad United to reach HBL PSL X final

Lahore Qalandars stormed into the final of the HBL PSL X after thrashing Islamabad United by 95 runs in the second Eliminator at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday night.

Set a challenging target of 203, United faltered under pressure and were bundled out for just 107 in 15.1 overs. Lahore’s bowlers dominated the innings, with Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, and Rishad Hossain picking up three wickets each.

Earlier, Kusal Perera and Mohammad Naeem struck fine half-centuries to propel Qalandars to a fighting total of 202-8.

United’s chase never took off. Their batting collapsed with wickets falling like dominoes. Salman Ali Agha top-scored with a 26-ball 33, including four boundaries and a six. Skipper Shadab Khan hit three sixes in his quick 14-ball 26 and was the only other batter to reach double figures.

Emerging pacer Salman Mirza was instrumental in dismantling United’s top order. He finished with figures of 3-16, dismissing top scorer Sahibzada Farhan (3), Rassie van der Dussen (7), and Imad Wasim (8).

Bangladeshi leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (3-34) grabbed the key wickets of Agha Salman, Shadab Khan, and James Neesham (8), while captain Shaheen Afridi capped off the innings with a remarkable spell of 3-3 in 3.1 overs.

Earlier in the day, Lahore Qalandars opted to bat first and were rocked early when in-form opener Fakhar Zaman was removed by Tymal Mills for 12. Fakhar struck three fours before a rising delivery caught the edge of his bat and was safely taken by wicketkeeper Sahibzada Farhan.

Mohammad Naeem then took charge, launching a counterattack that included three boundaries and a six off Naseem Shah in a single over. Naeem brought up his third fifty of the season in just 24 balls before he was stumped off Imad Wasim after scoring 50, featuring seven fours and two sixes.

He added 70 runs off 42 balls for the second wicket with Abdullah Shafique, who was later caught at mid-off for 18 off the bowling of James Neesham.

Kusal Perera and Bhanuka Rajapaksa provided late momentum with a brisk 48-run partnership off just 22 balls. Rajapaksa contributed 22 off 13 balls with a six and two fours before being bowled by Salman Irshad.

Perera played a pivotal role, smashing 61 off 35 balls with seven fours and two sixes. He took 21 runs off an over from Naseem Shah before being dismissed by Mills in the final over.

Asif Ali added valuable runs with 15 off 7 balls, including two consecutive sixes off Salman Irshad in the penultimate over.

For United, Tymal Mills was the pick of the bowlers with 3-42 in four overs. Salman Irshad chipped in with 2-40, while Naseem Shah remained expensive, conceding 52 runs in his full quota.

Lahore Qalandars made one change, bringing in Bangladeshi spinner Rishad Hossain for Zaman Khan. Islamabad United replaced Ben Dwarshuis with Tymal Mills and Mohammad Shahzad came in for Ghazi Ghori.

Lahore will now face Quetta Gladiators in Sunday’s final at the same venue. Both teams will be appearing in their fourth PSL final.