Journeyman Raza blasts Lahore Qalandars to PSL title
Lahore Qalandars won the Pakistan Super League (PSL) with a six-wicket win against Quetta Gladiators on Sunday night, with Sikandar Raza hitting the winning runs after only landing back in Lahore minutes prior to the start of the final.
The 39-year old Zimbabwean landed in Lahore just ten minutes before the toss, after scoring a half century in his country's innings defeat in the Nottingham Test against England a day before.
Needing 13 in the last over to complete a 202-run chase set by Quetta, Raza completed the task during his seven-ball 22 not out with two sixes and as many boundaries.
Sikandar Raza (L) celebrates with teammates their victory at the end of the PSL. AFP
He hit a maximum and a four in the last over to seal the victory with one ball remaining. Sri Lankan Kusal Perera led the chase with an undefeated 31-ball 62 studded with five boundaries and four sixes, adding 59 runs during the unbroken fifth wicket stand.
Opener Mohammad Naeem scored 46, with half a dozen sixes and one boundary, and Abdullah Shafique hit 41 to set Lahore on course for the highest-ever chase in a PSL final.
President Asif Ali Zardari (3rdR) hands over the trophy to Shaheen Shah Afridi. AFP
Lahore sealed their third title following triumphs in 2022 and 2023.
Raza said it was unbelievable to reach Lahore and achieve success. "It is unbelievable, batted for 40-odd overs in the Test, flew to Dubai where I had breakfast and then lunch in Abu Dhabi and arrived minutes from the toss, so it's incredible," he said.
Hasan Nawaz scored a brilliant 76 to lift Quetta to 201-9 after they won the toss and batted.
Coming in at 21-2, Nawaz added 67 for the fourth wicket with Avishka Fernando (29) and another 46 with Dinesh Chandimal (22) to steady the ship.
Lahore Qalanders' players carry teammate Sikandar Raza as they celebrate after their victory in the PSL. AFP
Lahore skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi was the pick of Lahore's bowlers with 3-24. Quetta mystery spinners Abrar Ahmed (1-27) and Usman Tariq (1-38) had squeezed Lahore and when Raza arrived the home team still needed 57 runs off the final 20 balls.
It was Faheem Ashraf (28) who lifted Quetta past 200, taking 23 off the last Salman Mirza over. The six-team PSL was suspended on May 9 following the conflict between Pakistan and India. However, the league resumed on May 17 after a ceasefire between the two countries.
Lahore Qalandars won the PSL titles in 2022 and 2023 and with its third win equaled Islamabad United's record of three PSL titles.
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