Sports Desk
LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars set a mammoth 242-run target against Peshawar Zalmi in their clash in Pakistan Super League (PSL)2023, at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
Abdullah and Fakhar played brilliantly, stitching a massive 120-run partnership for the second wicket to help Lahore Qalandars overcome the early setback and take control against Peshawar.
Abdullah, who is making his first appearance in PSL 8, wreaked destroyed Zalmi’s bowlers as he smashed 75 runs off only 41 balls. The right-handed batter hit five boundaries and the same number of sixes.
The 23-year-old was dismissed by Wahab, who claimed his second wicket.
But the onslaught continued as Sam Billings didn’t take long to settle and started hitting boundaries with Fakhar.
Fakhar was extraordinary against Peshawar Zalmi. The left-handed batter hit boundaries and maximum at will to score 96 runs off just 45 balls, laced up with 3 boundaries and 10 sixes. He fell to Rovman Powell in the 18th over.
The wicket-keeper batsman, Billings, scored an unbeaten 47 runs off just 23 balls, including five boundaries and three maximums.
Wahab Riaz gave Peshawar an early breakthrough by dismissing Qalandars’ opener Tahir Baig. The opening batter scored only five runs off seven balls.
For Peshawar, Wahab claimed two wickets, while Powell secured a scalp.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars won the toss and opted to bat first against Peshawar Zalmi.
Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi are currently in the 4th and 5th place, respectively, with 4 points each.
Shaheen Shah Afridi is in charge of the defending champions Lahore Qalandars, while Babar Azam is leading the Peshawar Zalmi.
Lahore Qalandars
Fakhar Zaman, Tahir Baig, Sam Billings, Sikandar Raza, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Abdullah Shafique, Hussain Talat, David Wiese, Rashid Khan, Zaman Khan
Peshawar Zalmi
Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Haris, Saim AyubJimmy Neesham, Wahab Riaz, Salman Irshad, Arshad Iqbal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Rovman Powell, Saad Masood.
