Lahore (Sports News): Qalandars began their title defence in style with a dominating 69-run win over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the opening match of the HBL Pakistan Super League here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Thursday night.
Hyderabad Kingsmen were bundled out for 130 in 20 overs chasing the 200-run target with the Qalandars pacers collectively taking six for 96.
Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi and Ubaid Shah struck in third and fourth overs, respectively to remove the Hyderabad Kingsmen opening duo of Usman Khan and Saim Ayub with 33 runs on the board.
Lahore Qalandars kept on taking wickets at regular intervals with Mustafizur Rahman and Sikandar Raza eking out the next three wickets in the three over post the powerplay.
Sikandar removed the dangerous Kusal Perera in seventh over and Marnus Labuschagne (26, 22b, 3x4s) in ninth as Kingsmen were left reeling at 65-5 in nine overs. Mustafizur in the meanwhile accounted for Mohammad Irfan Khan.
From this juncture, Kingsmen never came back in the game as they lost their remaining five wickets for 65 runs as well with Riley Meredith remaining unbeaten for 19 off 26 hitting one four, while Hassan Khan (14, 9b, 1x4, 1x6) and Rizwan Mehmood fell to Haris Rauf.
Haris, Sikandar and Ubaid bagged two wickets each, while Mustafizur and Shaheen claimed one wicket each.
Batting first, Lahore Qalandars got off to a flying start through Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman, who stitched together an 84-run opening stand. The pair got off the blocks with a flurry of boundaries.
Naeem also struck the first six of the innings in the third over off Meredith as the two plundered 64 runs in the powerplay, with Fakhar collecting 20 runs off Mohammad Ali in the sixth over.
Hyderabad Kingsmen made a comeback in the innings with three quick wickets as the opening partnership was broken in the ninth over when Naeem (30, 19b, 4x4s, 1x6) fell prey to Hassan Khan trying to dig a full delivery but holed out to Rizwan Mehmood at long on.
Abdullah Shafique was run out in the following over at the striker’s end after Fakhar called for run but Hammad Azam’s lethal throw from short third did the job.
In the 10th over, Fakhar also departed, miscuing a shot towards deep midwicket where Saim took the catch off Hassan with Qalandars 94-3. Fakhar, who became the second batter besides Babar Azam to reach the 3000-run mark in the HBL PSL, contributed 53 off 39 balls striking 10 fours.
Parvez Hossain Emon (14, 13b, 1x6) and Haseebullah steadied the innings adding 37 runs for the fourth wicket to carry their side to 131 for four in 15.1 overs.
Sikandar then provided the late impetus with a brisk 24 off 10 balls, laced with two fours and two sixes, while Haseebullah remained unbeaten on 40 off 28 deliveries, striking two fours and two sixes.
Shaheen Shah Afridi hit two sixes off the last two deliveries of the innings after walking in to bat at 187-6 in 19.4 overs. Qalandars finished with 199 for six in their 20 overs. Meredith and Hassan picked up two wickets each.
Scores in brief:
Lahore Qalandars 199-6, 20 overs (Fakhar Zaman 53, Haseebullah 40 not out, Mohammad Naeem 30, Sikandar Raza 24; Hassan Khan 2-30, Riley Meredith 2-39)
Hyderabad Kingsmen 130 all out, 20 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 26, Riley Meredith 19 not out; Haris Rauf 2-22, Sikandar Raza 2-27, Ubaid Shah 2-27)
