Zaman holds nerve in closing over to seal one-run win for Lahore Qalandars in PSL 2023 opener

Lahore Qalandars 175 for six (Zaman 66, Baig 32, Mir 2-25) beat Multan Sultans 174 for six (Rizwan 75, Masood 35, Talat 1-16) by one run

Sultans had gained the toss and inserted the Qalandars in. Having misplaced Harry Brook and Kusal Mendis to unavailability, they required a big contribution from Fakhar, and he duly delivered. He struck up a 61-run opening stand with Qalandars’ academy product Tahir Baig, however whereas run scoring proved a problem from the opposite finish, Fakhar motored alongside.

Sultans started to choose up common wickets, whereas spinners Akeal Hosein and Usama Mir managed to sneak in eight economical overs, dragging the run price again and slowly shifting momentum of their favour. But sloppiness on the dying – each within the subject and with the ball – proved pricey with cameos from Sikandar Raza and Hussain Talat making certain the final 4 overs yielded 45 runs.

The Sultans’ chase started as you would possibly anticipate, with Rizwan and Shan Masood shepherding them via the powerplay with ease, if not explosiveness. Rizwan’s timing and placement was significantly candy, although, as he picked up common boundaries via the Powerplay off tempo, whereas expertly manipulating the sphere in opposition to the spin of Raza.

But whereas the Qalandars weren’t choosing up wickets, they did not let Sultans run away. Shan was struggling to kick on, and Rizwan’s customary post-powerplay slowdown meant the asking price started to creep up, nearly imperceptibly at first. There had been no boundaries scored for a five-over spell between the ninth and 14th overs, Masood had simply fallen for a 31-ball 35, and the asking price was over ten.

ESPNcricinfo’s win predictor nonetheless put the Sultans in management, however it’s tough to account for Afridi and Rauf’s brilliance after they’re actually on fireplace on the dying. With David Miller and Kieron Pollard on the crease through the closing few overs – two gamers not precisely bereft of T20 pedigree – Rauf and Afridi dominated overs 15 to 19, throughout which the asking price had careered out of Sultans’ management. By now, Sultans’ solely hope lay in hoping that the nerves of younger Zaman would fray within the twentieth, with 15 runs to win.

However, that wasn’t to be, by a tiny margin ultimately. The first three balls noticed simply two runs scored and as many wickets fall, and regardless that a boundary from Khushdil Shah took it to the ultimate supply, he may solely get 4, and never the six that the Sultans required to tug off the heist.

The Qalandars start the PSL as they completed the final one: with a win over the Sultans. But it might are available in a thriller somewhat than a cakewalk, one which units up the competitors irresistibly.