PSL 10: United dominate Qalandars to kick off title defence in style
RAWALPINDI: Jason Holder made a sensational PSL debut with a four-wicket haul, while Colin Munro’s unbeaten half-century powered Islamabad United to a convincing eight-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars in the opening clash of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Chasing a modest target of 140, the defending champions cruised to victory with 14 balls to spare, losing only two wickets in the process.
However, the hosts didn’t have the smoothest of starts as debutant opener Andries Gous fell in the second over with just eight runs on the board.
Munro then joined Sahibzada Farhan at the crease and the pair stabilized the innings with a 55-run stand. Farhan’s knock ended in the ninth over when Haris Rauf dismissed him for a 24-ball 25.
Munro went on to form a match-winning partnership of 80 runs with Salman Ali Agha, ensuring United’s smooth finish. The experienced left-hander remained unbeaten on 59 from 42 balls, striking seven boundaries and a six, while Agha chipped in with an unbeaten 41 off 34, hitting three fours and a six.
For the Qalandars, Abbas Afridi and Haris Rauf managed to pick up a wicket each.
Earlier, United skipper Shadab Khan’s decision to bowl first paid off handsomely as their disciplined bowling attack, spearheaded by Holder, restricted Lahore to a below-par 139 all out in 19.2 overs.
Lahore endured a poor start to their innings, losing key batter Fakhar Zaman for just one in the second over with only four runs on the board.
Abdullah Shafique, batting at one-down, tried to anchor the innings and provided some resistance with a well-crafted 66 off 38 deliveries, featuring six fours and three sixes. He stitched together small but vital partnerships with Daryl Mitchell (13) and Sikandar Raza (23), but the rest of the batting lineup failed to make any notable contribution, with no other player reaching double digits.
Holder emerged as the standout performer with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 26. Shadab Khan supported well with three wickets, while Imad Wasim, Naseem Shah, and Riley Meredith took one wicket each.
With this dominant win, Islamabad United claimed the top spot in the PSL 10 standings, while the Qalandars found themselves at the bottom after their disappointing performance.
