Sikandar Raza's all-round performance and Haris Rauf's four-for powered Lahore Qalandars to crush Islamabad United by 88 runs, ending their winning streak in the tournament.
Chasing a daunting target of 210 runs set by the Qalandars, Islamabad United's batting lineup crumbled under pressure, and all players were bundled out for just 121 runs in 16.5 overs in the 19th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 here at Qaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.
Despite a spirited 41-run effort from Andre Gous, the rest of the batting order failed to offer any substantial resistance.
Salman Ali Agha showed promise with 36 runs before being bowled by Sikandar Raza, but his dismissal triggered a rapid collapse. Azam Khan managed only a single run before being trapped lbw by Haris Rauf. Haider Ali contributed just 5, while captain Shadab Khan scored 13 runs before falling. Imad Wasim also failed to make an impact, scoring just 2 runs.
The Qalandars’ bowling attack was clinical and relentless. Haris Rauf led the charge with a fiery spell, claiming four wickets. Sikandar Raza complemented him well, taking three crucial scalps, while skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi chipped in with a wicket of his own.
Before this first defeat, Islamabad United had won five out of five matches.
Earlier, Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza's six-hitting blitz propelled Lahore Qalandars to post a formidable total of 209 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
After being asked to bat first, Qalandars opener Fakhar Zaman emerged as the top scorer for Lahore with a brisk 44-run knock. He was well-supported by Mohammad Naeem, who contributed 25 runs before being run out.
Abdullah Shafique added 22 runs to the total before returning to the pavilion.
Sikandar Raza and Sam Billings provided crucial middle-order runs, scoring 39 and 38 respectively, helping Lahore reach an imposing total.
Their partnerships were instrumental in accelerating the innings during the latter overs.
On the bowling front, Islamabad United’s Imad Wasim stood out with the ball, claiming two important wickets and keeping things relatively tight during his spell.
Islamabad United now face a challenging chase, needing 210 runs to win the match.
Earlier, Islamabad United's skipper Shadab Khan opted to bowl first.
United have made four changes to their lineup while Lahore will keep the same team that have played the previous match against Multan Sultans.
Playing XIs
Lahore Qalandars: Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafique, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings (wk), Sikandar Raza, Asif Ali, Tom Curran, Shaheen Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Asif Afridi
Islamabad United: Andries Gous, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Imad Wasim, Haider Ali, Jason Holder, Shadab Khan (c), Azam Khan (wk), Ben Dwarshuis, Naseem Shah, Hunain Shah
Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars have come face to face 20 times since the inaugural edition of the league in 2016, with the former boasting a slightly dominant record with 11 victories, while the two-time champions emerged victorious on nine occasions.