MULTAN:  Fakhar Zaman’s blistering 42-ball 66 and pacers’ incredible bowling powered the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars to victory by one run in the first match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Multan Cricket Stadium on Monday night.

Lahore Qalandars’ skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi got rid of Mohammad Rizwan, who was looking belligerent for his 50-ball 75 in the first match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League at Multan Cricket Stadium yesterday. After a great partnership of 100, it was part-time Hussain Talat who gave Lahore Qalandars some hope to bag victory after getting better of Shan Masood, who made 31-ball 35 in the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Multan Cricket Stadium.

Chasing a formidable target of 176 runs against the Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans openers Mohammad Rizwan and Shan Masood left no stone unturned to put Shaheen XI to test. Lahore Qalandars, Fakhar Zaman and debutant Mirza Baig opened innings. Both of them managed to provide the Qalandars, a solid platform by putting a brilliant partnership of 61. Mirza Baig was removed by Akeal Hosein and he scored 26-ball 32, studded with five boundaries. Later, Zaman was joined by Shai Hope who was perished on 17-ball 19, smoking a four and a sixer. Kamran Ghulam only scored 6-ball 3 and was undone by Ihsanullah.

Fakhar Zaman played a special knock for his side and amassed 42-ball 66 and he clobbered three boundaries and five sixes.

It was the cameos of Zimbabwean cricketer Sikandar Raza (19 off 14 deliveries) and Hussain Talat (20 off 12). David Wiese could only score 4-ball 5. For Multan Sultans, Usama Mir (2-25) and Ihsanullah (2-37) bagged two wickets each. While, Akeal Hosein (1-31) and Shahnawaz Dahani (1-40) took a wicket apiece. Earlier, Multan Sultans won the toss and elected to field first against the Lahore Qalandars in the first match of the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) at Multan on Monday. A star-studded ceremony marked the beginning of the PSL eighth edition, having breathtaking national anthem in the voice of noted singer Aima Baig. The glitz and glamour besides fireworks captivated the audience at the Multan Cricket Stadium and have been arranged to present country's soft image the world over.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 14 2023

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