RAWALPINDI: Zaman Khan’s four-wicket haul after Rassie van der Dussen’s gutsy half-century led Lahore Qalandars to their first win in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 here at Pindi Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Set to chase 163, the United’s batting unit unfolded on 145 in 18.5 overs despite Faheem Ashraf’s unbeaten 41.
The home side had a disastrous start to the run chase as they lost six wickets inside seven overs with just 38 runs on the board.
Following the slump, Azam Khan partnered briefly with Faheem Ashraf for an anchoring 35-run partnership which lasted with the former’s departure in the 11th over.
The right-handed batter smashed three boundaries and two sixes on his way to a 19-ball 29.
Faheem then put together an important partnership with Naseem Shah when the duo added 42 runs for the eighth wicket.
Naseem scored a brisk 27 off 16 deliveries before falling victim to Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 16th over.
But Faheem kept the scoreboard ticking and brought United in touching distance to a thrilling victory when they needed 18 off eight deliveries.
However, Zaman Khan trapped Rumman Raees lbw with a ferocious yorker and United, as a result, bundled out on 145 in response to Qalandars’ 162.
Faheem remained stranded at the non-striker’s end 41 not out off 31 deliveries which featured four boundaries and a six.
Zaman led the bowling attack for the Qalandars with 4/37, followed by Afridi, who bagged two wickets.
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Put into bat first, the defending champions, who are yet to win a match in the ongoing tournament could manage a subpar total despite Rassie van der Dussen’s half-century.
The visitors had a disappointing start to their innings as they lost their openers Sahibzada Farhan (2) and Fakhar Zaman (10) inside the batting powerplay with just 16 runs on the board.
The Qalandars then sustained another blow to their batting charge when Shai Hope (6) perished in the sixth over, bringing them down to 30/3 in the seventh over.
Following the slump, Qalandars’ captain Shaheen Shah Afridi promoted himself in the batting order, coming out to bat at No.5.
He offered a brief counterattack with his quickfire cameo and put together a brisk 46-run partnership with van der Dussen before falling victim to his Islamabad United counterpart Shadab Khan in the 11th over.
Afridi smashed four sixes on his way to a 14-ball 30.
But Rassie van der Dussen stood his ground firm and put together brief partnerships with Sikandar Raza (4) and Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti (13) before finally perishing in the 18th over.
He remained the top-scorer for the Qalandars with 64 off 44 deliveries, featuring four boundaries and as many sixes.
Later, David Wiese bolstered Lahore Qalandars’ total with an unbeaten 24-run cameo. His 11-ball knock featured three boundaries.
Rumman Raees led the bowling attack for Islamabad United in their all-important PSL 9 fixture with 2/19, while Naseem Shah, Hunain Shah, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf and Shadab made one scalp each.