In an exhilarating showdown, Kusal Perera and Sikandar Raza teamed up for a stunning 59-run partnership off just 37 balls, leading the Lahore Qalandars to a thrilling six-wicket win over the Quetta Gladiators. This victory not only secured the HBL PSL X title but also delighted a packed crowd of 34,000 fans at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday night.
With this win, the Qalandars became only the second team to clinch the title three times, matching the impressive record of Islamabad United.
As they chased down a target of 202 runs, Lahore Qalandars started with a bang, thanks to Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman, who laid a solid foundation with a 39-run opening partnership that set the stage for an exciting innings.
The partnership came to an abrupt end when Fakhar was dismissed by Abrar Ahmed after managing just 11 runs off 10 balls, which included a couple of boundaries.
Next up was Abdullah Shafique, who joined Naeem at the crease. The duo quickly picked up the pace, hitting boundaries and forming a vital second-wicket partnership. The 26-year-old was on fire as he neared his fifty in PSL 10, but his innings was cut short by Faheem Ashraf.
The opening batter made a significant contribution, scoring 47 runs off 27 balls, which included one boundary and six sixes. His dismissal marked the end of a crucial 46-run stand, leaving the team at 85 for 2 after 8.4 overs.
Abdullah Shafique kept the momentum going, building a 30-run partnership with Kusal Perera, who also chipped in with important runs as they aimed to chase down the target.
However, Usman Tariq eventually broke the partnership by dismissing Shafique. Shafique had a fiery innings, scoring 41 runs off 28 balls, with four boundaries and a six, leaving the team at 115 for 3 in 12.3 overs.
In the 17th over, Mohammad Amir claimed his first wicket by sending Rajapaksa back to the pavilion, who managed to score 14 runs off 16 balls, leaving the team at 145-4 in 16.4 overs.
Sikandar Raza and Perera then unleashed a flurry of boundaries, leading Qalandars to a spectacular victory.
Earlier in the match, after winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Quetta faced an early blow when their captain, Saud Shakeel, was dismissed by Qalandars’ skipper and left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi for just four runs off six balls, putting the Gladiators at 17-1 in 2.4 overs.
Quetta’s struggles continued in the next over when Salman Mirza took out Finn Allen for 12 runs off 11 deliveries, putting the team under significant pressure. However, a solid 38-run partnership between Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz helped stabilize the innings.
Dinesh Chandimal then joined Nawaz, providing crucial support and hitting two sixes off Sikandar Raza in the 17th over, which pushed the score to 170-4.
Shaheen Afridi made a comeback to stop the momentum, dismissing Chandimal for a quick 22 runs off 13 balls. Just two balls later, he struck again, getting rid of the well-set Hasan Nawaz, who scored a brilliant 76 off 43 deliveries, leaving Quetta at 172-6 in 17.5 overs.
However, Faheem Ashraf made a significant impact in the final over, smashing 28 runs off just eight balls, including several boundaries, to help Quetta cross the 200-run mark. He was dismissed on the last ball of the innings.
A heartfelt tribute was paid to the brave officers and soldiers of the Pakistan Navy during the innings break at the PSL X final. The ceremony saw the presence of Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Natalie Baker, the Charge D’affaires from the US embassy in Islamabad, along with other senior civil and military leaders.
In the end, Lahore took home a prize of $500,000, while Quetta secured $200,000 as the runners-up.
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