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MULTAN: Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Afridi vowed to make a strong comeback after their defeat against Multan Sultans in the 12th match of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing a daunting total of 229, Lahore Qalandars crumbled under pressure and could only manage 195 for the loss of nine wickets in their 20 overs.
Lahore Qalandars started strong in pursuit of the target, posting 38 in 3.2 overs, before Mohammad Naeem’s wicket.
Fakhar Zaman led the charge with a brisk 32 off 14 balls, laced with three fours and two sixes. However, he was dismissed on the penultimate ball of the fourth over, halting Qalandars’ momentum.
Following his dismissal, Abdullah Shafique partnered with Daryl Mitchell and formed a brisk 36-run stand, taking the Qalandars’ score to 85 in 8.4 overs. Just as the Qalandars appeared to recover, Multan Sultans struck back, removing both batters in quick succession to leave the visitors struggling at 87-4.
The required run-rate soared as Qalandars slipped to 111-5 in 11.2 overs. Meanwhile, Sam Billings and Sikandar Raza provided them with a glimmer of hope with a valiant 38-run partnership.
Sam Billings was removed for a well-made 43 off 23 balls, an innings featuring four sixes and two fours. However, his dismissal derailed the chase once more. Sikandar Raza continued to fight with a valiant 50 off 27 balls, featuring five fours and three sixes, but the target proved too steep in the end.
For Multan Sultans, Ubaid Shah starred with a three-wicket haul while Usama Mir and Michael Bracewell each picked up two wickets in economical spells.
During the post-match talk, Shaheen vowed to fight back and praised the performance of youngsters, stating it would significantly boost their confidence for future matches.
“It’s still early days in the tournament, and we’re confident of bouncing back stronger,” he said.
“To be honest, it was a tough wicket for the bowlers today. But the youngsters stepped up, and that’s one of the big positives we’ll take forward,” he added.
Shaheen Afridi expressed confidence in Rishad Hossain’s recent performances and anticipated even better results from him in the upcoming matches, highlighting that the expected pitch conditions would be favorable for his style of bowling.
“We also wanted to try out Mitchell on this surface and give everyone an opportunity. Rishad Hossain has been bowling really well for us, and we believe the upcoming pitches will suit his style even more, ” he remarked.
READ: Multan Sultans thump Lahore Qalandars to secure first win in PSL 10
