Raza stars as Qalandars crush United by 88 runs to end their unbeaten streak

Sikandar Raza delivered an all-round performance to help Lahore Qalandars end Islamabad United’s unbeaten run with an 88-run victory in a crucial HBL PSL X match at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Wednesday night.

Fakhar Zaman (44), Sikandar Raza (39), and Sam Billings (38 not out) guided Lahore to a strong total of 209-6 in their 20 overs.

Haris Rauf (4-31) and Raza (3-20) then bowled out United for just 121 in the 17th over.

This was Lahore’s fourth win, taking them to eight points from seven games, while Islamabad suffered their first defeat but remain top of the table with 10 points from six matches.

Chasing a steep target, United lost an early wicket when Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed the in-form Sahibzada Farhan, caught by Raza in the deep for 9 off 10 balls, including one four.

Salman Ali Agha joined Andries Gous and the pair added 79 for the second wicket. Raza eventually broke the partnership by bowling Salman for a 25-ball 36. Returning after injury, Salman attempted a reverse sweep but missed and was bowled. His knock included three sixes and two fours.

That dismissal triggered a collapse.

Haris Rauf trapped Azam Khan lbw for 1, while left-arm spinner Asif Afridi removed Haider Ali for 5, leaving United reeling at 92-4 in the 12th over.

In the next over, Rauf took two wickets in two balls—dismissing Gous and Jason Holder—to crush any hopes of a United comeback. Gous had played well for his 27-ball 41, hitting three sixes and two fours.

The Qalandars cleaned up the tail swiftly, sealing a comprehensive win.

Earlier, after being put in to bat on a lively track, Lahore got off to a solid start. Fakhar Zaman played a steady hand, while a late onslaught by Raza and Billings pushed them to a huge total.

At one stage, Qalandars were 145-4 in the 17th over and looked unlikely to breach 200. But Raza and Billings launched a brutal attack, scoring 82 runs in the final five overs.

The pair added 64 off just 22 balls for the fifth wicket.

Raza, who fell to Jason Holder in the final over, smashed three sixes and three fours in his 18-ball 39. He took 21 runs off Ben Dwarshuis in the 19th over, including two sixes and two fours—the most expensive over of the innings.

Billings was equally aggressive, hitting four sixes and a four in his unbeaten 17-ball 38. He also struck two massive sixes off Naseem Shah in the 18th over, which yielded 16 runs.

Earlier, Fakhar and Mohammad Naeem opened the innings with some fluent shots. Naeem was run out for 25 off 22 balls, hitting four fours and a six.

Lahore were 56-1 at the end of the powerplay.

Abdullah Shafique joined Fakhar and the duo added 47 quick runs for the second wicket. Fakhar was stumped for a 30-ball 44 (two sixes and five fours) off Imad Wasim, who initially fumbled before completing the dismissal.

Shafique also looked in good touch, hitting three fours in his 17-ball 22 before falling to Imad, leaving Qalandars at 108-3 in the 13th over.

Daryl Mitchell and Billings then added 37 brisk runs before Dwarshuis dismissed Mitchell for 28 off 18 balls (two sixes and two fours). Mitchell had earlier taken 18 off a Jason Holder over.

Then came the Raza-Billings blitz that dismantled United’s bowling.

Imad Wasim was United’s standout bowler, taking 2-26 in three overs. Holder claimed 2-54 in four, while Dwarshuis took 1-51. Hunain Shah, younger brother of Naseem Shah, bowled just one over and conceded 13 runs.

On Thursday (tomorrow), Karachi Kings face Multan Sultans, while Lahore Qalandars meet Quetta Gladiators at the same venue.