All-Round Brilliance of Sikandar Raza Powers Lahore To Beat Islamabad United
LAHORE: A scintillating all-round show from Sikandar Raza powered Lahore Qalandars to a commanding 88-run triumph over reigning champions Islamabad United in the 19th fixture of PSL 10 at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Raza first blazed an explosive 39 off just 17 balls and later returned with the ball to claim three vital wickets, spearheading Lahore’s dominant performance.
Chasing a daunting target of 210, Islamabad United crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for a mere 121 in just 16.5 overs — marking their first defeat of the ongoing season.
The chase began on a shaky note as Lahore skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi removed the in-form Sahibzada Farhan in the third over, leaving United reeling at 11/1.
Agha Salman and Andries Gous then attempted to stabilise the innings with a 69-run stand for the second wicket. However, just as the pair looked set to accelerate, Raza struck a crucial blow by dismissing Agha in the 10th over.
Agha contributed a quick 36 off 25 balls, featuring two boundaries and three maximums. His dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse as United lost their remaining eight wickets for just 50 runs.
Gous top-scored for the visitors with a brisk 41 off 27 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes.
Haris Rauf led Lahore’s bowling assault with an impressive 4/31 in 3.5 overs, while Raza claimed 3/21. Tom Curran, Asif Afridi, and Shaheen Afridi picked up one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars posted a formidable 209/6 after being put into bat. The innings was anchored by a quickfire 64-run sixth-wicket partnership between Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza.
Openers Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem provided a solid start with a 50-run partnership. Naeem was the aggressor in the stand, scoring 25 off 22 balls before being run out by a direct hit from Ben Dwarshuis in the final over of the powerplay.
Fakhar went on to form another valuable stand with Abdullah Shafique, adding 47 runs for the second wicket. He scored 44 off 30 balls with five boundaries and two sixes before falling to Imad Wasim in the 11th over.
Imad struck again shortly after to remove Shafique, who managed 22 off 17 deliveries.
Billings and Daryl Mitchell then combined for a rapid 37-run partnership before Mitchell was dismissed for 28 off 18 balls. The finishing touch came from Billings and Raza, whose 64-run blitz in the death overs propelled Lahore past the 200-run mark.
Raza hammered three fours and three sixes in his 17-ball 39, while Billings remained unbeaten on 38 from 17 balls, including one four and four sixes.
For Islamabad United, Imad Wasim and Jason Holder claimed two wickets apiece, with Dwarshuis also chipping in with one.
