LAHORE: A blistering half-century from Mohammad Naeem powered Lahore Qalandars to a commanding total against Multan Sultans in the rain-affected 11th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
In a contest reduced to 13 overs per side after a lengthy rain delay, Multan Sultans captain Ashton Turner won the toss and opted to bowl first. However, the decision proved costly as the defending champions piled up an imposing 185/5, thanks to a dominant top-order performance.
Qalandars got off to a flying start, with openers Mohammad Naeem and Parvez Hossain Emon putting on an explosive 86-run partnership in just five overs. Emon was the first to depart, dismissed by debutant pacer Muhammad Ismail after a quickfire 45 off 19 balls, which included five sixes and two fours.
Despite the breakthrough, Lahore maintained their momentum. Naeem continued his aggressive approach and, along with Abdullah Shafique, added 58 runs in quick time. Both batters, however, fell in successive overs, with Ismail and Faisal Akram picking up crucial wickets.
Naeem emerged as the top scorer with a scintillating 60 off 28 deliveries, featuring four sixes and four boundaries, while Shafique contributed a brisk 33 off 14 balls.
Peter Siddle provided another breakthrough by dismissing Rubin Hermann cheaply in the penultimate over. However, Sikandar Raza ensured a strong finish, smashing back-to-back boundaries on the final two balls to push the total to a formidable level.
Among the bowlers, Muhammad Ismail stood out for Multan Sultans, claiming two wickets, while Siddle and Faisal Akram chipped in with one wicket each.
Beaten by the pace off, inside edge crashes into the stumps! 🎯🏏#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #LQvMS pic.twitter.com/5VfAwgNBx2
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 3, 2026
Squads
Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Naeem, Mustafizur Rahman, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Fakhar Zaman, Ubaid Shah, Haseebullah, Mohammad Farooq, Daniel Sams, Parvez Hussain Emon, Asif Ali, Tayyab Tahir, Dunith Wellalage, Rubin Hermann, Maaz Khan, Ryan Burl and Shahab Khan.
Multan Sultans: Ashton Turner (c), Shan Masood (vc), Mohammad Nawaz, Shehzad Gul, Faisal Akram, Imran Randhawa, Arafat Minhas, Sahibzada Farhan, Steve Smith, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lachlan Shaw, Delano Potgieter, Josh Philippe, Momin Qamar, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Shahzad, Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Ismail and Atizaz Habib Khan.
