Baig, Zaman dazzle to take Lahore Qalandars to 3rd PSL ultimate in 4 seasons

Lahore Qalandars 176 for six (Baig 54, Billings 28, Omarzai 2-31) beat Peshawar Zalmi 171 for five (Haris 85, Babar 42, Zaman 2-20) by 4 wickets

In the primary 4 years of the PSL, the Lahore Qalandars squad would have been on vacation, or again dwelling in entrance of the telly by this stage of the competitors. But these darkish days are a distant reminiscence now, with the defending champions sweeping previous a valiant problem from Peshawar Zalmi by 4 wickets to e-book their spot of their third ultimate in 4 years.

Zalmi opted to bat on the toss, absolutely cognisant that the Qalandars had been but to win chasing this season, and no chasing facet had triumphed but on the Gaddafi Stadium this yr. Saim Ayub was cleaned up early by Zaman Khan, however Babar Azam and Haris struck up an imposing partnership to set a platform. Haris was in excellent placing type as soon as extra, a six and a 4 off the primary three balls he confronted from Shaheen an announcement of intent. Babar joined in from the opposite finish and by the tip of the powerplay, Zalmi had put up 54, set as much as go larger.

Babar didn’t take the subsequent step up, although, and his strike price stalled. Haris Rauf was arduous to get away within the center overs, however Haris clobbered Rashid Khan for 14 in his first over to maintain Qalandars beneath strain. Even Babar went after Rashid with a pair of boundaries to kick off his second. But Rashid hit again, taking two wickets in his third, breaking the stand with Babar’s wicket and eradicating Tom Kohler-Cadmore for a duck. And whereas Haris continued to membership away, plundering one other 13 off Rashid’s ultimate over, the runs from the opposite finish had been drying up.

Shaheen had held Haris again for 3 overs on the demise, and Zalmi discovered him troublesome to get away. David Wiese’s variations in tempo, too, proved difficult to assault, whereas, crucially, Shaheen nabbed Haris off the ultimate ball of his spell. The younger Zalmi batter had saved his strike price up, however as he departed for 85, Zalmi’s momentum was ebbing away. Haris mentioned on the midway mark that the 171 that they had posted was effectively above par, however the Qalandars weren’t to be fooled.

Baig received the Qalandars operating with a six within the first over, however Zalmi had an enormous breakthrough instantly. Fakhar Zaman swung and missed as Azmatullah Omarzai hit center stump, and rookie allrounder Azmat Hafeez departed quickly after following a breezy 15. Abdullah Shafique, too, was solely on the crease for a short time, contributing a 31-run stand with Baig earlier than a mixture up ran him out.

But Zalmi might need been lulled right into a false sense of safety with these common breakthroughs. The Qalandars did not have an enormous particular person scorer a la Haris, or one massive stand just like the Babar-Haris partnership, however these small cameos and gritty partnerships had been furtively knocking off the runs. Sam Billings and Baig placed on 50 in 28 balls to ensure the run price was now not a problem earlier than Baig feathered one by way of off Aamer Jamal, however the match state of affairs was arrange completely for finishers like Billings and Sikandar Raza.

They would not be there until the very finish, however they received shut sufficient. There was a 28-run partnership, and a 28-ball 21 for Billings complemented by 23 off 14 from Raza. Both had their stumps knocked again with the Qalandars nonetheless a trickle of runs away, however the dam Zalmi had arrange in defence of their whole had lastly burst.

The coup de grace was delivered, in fashion, by the Qalandars’ swaggering younger captain, a wallop over mid-on adopted by a lofted straight drive for six by Shaheen Afridi to seal the win. He held that Adonis-like pose for exaggerated impact because the Qalandars booked their spot within the ultimate, a repeat of final yr’s trophy match between the defending champions and Multan Sultans. He could but go on to carry the trophy as soon as extra.