Lahore Qalandars Crush Multan Sultans in High-Scoring 13-Over Thriller

LAHORE: A blistering knock from Mohammad Naeem stole the show as defending champions Lahore Qalandars registered a 20-run victory over Multan Sultans in a rain-shortened clash of Pakistan Super League Season 11 at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Chasing a steep 186 in just 13 overs, the Sultans managed 165/5 despite a late surge from skipper Ashton Turner and a fiery cameo by Shan Masood.

The run chase never truly settled for Multan, as early blows saw Steve Smith and Josh Philippe dismissed cheaply within the powerplay, leaving the side struggling at 18/2. Masood then joined Sahibzada Farhan to rebuild, adding 32 runs before Farhan departed for 24.

Masood kept the pressure on with an aggressive 44 off just 18 balls, but his dismissal in the 10th over shifted momentum back toward the Qalandars. Turner then led a late charge alongside Arafat Minhas, the pair adding 57 runs for the fifth wicket. However, Minhas fell late in the innings, and despite Turner’s unbeaten 52 off 22 balls, the target proved out of reach.

Among the bowlers, Mustafizur Rahman stood out with two wickets, while Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sikandar Raza and Ubaid Shah chipped in with one each.

Earlier, after being put in to bat by Turner, Lahore Qalandars made full use of the shortened format, piling up a massive 185/5 in 13 overs. Their innings was built on a sensational opening stand between Naeem and Parvez Hossain Emon, who added 86 runs in just five overs.

Emon smashed 45 off 19 balls before falling to debutant Muhammad Ismail, who endured a tough start but struck early. Naeem, however, continued the onslaught and brought up a rapid 60 off 28 deliveries, dominating the Sultans’ bowling attack.

He later found support from Abdullah Shafique as the duo stitched together another quickfire partnership of 58 runs. Shafique contributed 33 off 14 balls before both batters were dismissed in quick succession.

Late breakthroughs from Peter Siddle and Faisal Akram slowed things briefly, but a late flourish from Raza ensured Lahore finished strongly.

For Multan, Ismail was the most successful bowler with two wickets, while Siddle and Akram picked up one each, though their efforts weren’t enough to stop a dominant Qalandars display.