The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
So, that is it from myself, Karthik Raj and my co-commentator, Aryasekhar Chakraborty. There is still an ECL match left today which will start at 12.00 AM while there is plenty more action coming tomorrow. Day 2 of the second Test between NZ and SL, first ODI between BAN and IRE, two WPL matches, the second ODI between SA and WI and plenty more matches are on the table. Don't miss out on any of those!
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Lahore Qalandars captain): In big matches, pressure will be there and it gets tougher when the toss doesn't go your way. Plan was to play positive cricket in all the departments. When we bowled hard lengths, it was gripping. Credit to Tahir Baig who batted really well. The Lahore crowd has always supported us and we hope to do well on the big day!
Mirza Tahir Baig: My team trusted me and Shaheen gave me confidence. My gratitude to Shaheen who gave me chances continuously. After Fakhar Zaman got out, Ahsan Bhatti got us some quick runs and it helped our team get the momentum. We were thinking that if there were wickets in hand, the runs could be chased down and I wanted to play 30-35 balls.
Mirza Tahir Baig has been named as the 'Player of the Match'.
Time for the Post-match Presentation!
Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi captain): I think, the score was not enough. Our score came down from overs 11-15. Credit to the Lahore bowlers for bowling well against the set batters. We should have got 180-185 but credit to the Lahore bowlers. I don’t think today’s wicket was two-paced. The fast bowlers got some bounce initially. The ball keeps a bit low here in Lahore but I think in the end our bowling wasn’t up to the mark. We were up to the mark till the 7th 8th over but not after that. I feel well whenever a youngster plays and performs and dominates. The discussion and communications matter a bit. In the T20 format, you have to take early decisions and allow them to express themselves. I always want to win matches for the team, it has always been my belief. There was some positive in my batting but some work also needs to be done. Will work on it and try and apply on my game.
Sikandar Raza: As we know it is my first PSL for Lahore Qalandars. It was a humbling experience. Our target was to play the final and try and defend our trophy. To be honest, our focus was on the start. We knew if we get a good start then it would get easier for the middle-order batters. Tahir and Billings batted brilliantly. The running between the wickets was exceptional. Even when the boundaries were not coming, the strike was rotated and a big over then turned it in our favor. Everything was available for us. We plan ourselves where we can hydrate ourselves by eating well and sleeping well. Shaheen allows us to speak. He is always opening up to the senior guys.
What a way to finish it off. A gorgeous straight-driven six from the skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi as Lahore Qalandars get to their second consecutive final! A pretty professional chase from Lahore after failing to do the same against Multan Sultans in the Qualifier.
The bowlers definitely pulled back things for Lahore as they restricted Peshawar Zalmi to 171-5. Lahore didn't get off to the best start in the chase as Azmatullah Omarzai bowled Fakhar Zaman in the second over. The Shaheen-led side promoted Ahsan Bhatti to No.3 and the southpaw came up with a few lusty blows as Lahore took advantage of the Powerplay. Wahab Riaz cut short Bhatti's cameo in the fifth over but Tahir Baig went on as if it was business as usual at the other end.
Peshawar weren't helped by the fact that Wahab pulled his hamstring and this forced Babar Azam to turn towards part-time spinner Saim Ayub. After a few mix-ups, Abdullah Shafique was eventually run-out in the ninth over as Peshawar got a look in. However, the experienced Sam Billings came in and produced a few boundaries which got the asking rate under control.
The Peshawar bowlers also offered a lot of freebies as Tahir Baig got to his first-ever PSL fifty. Yet, Baig immediately got out as he edged a wide delivery from Aamer Jamal in the 13th over. The dismissal didn't affect Lahore as Billings continued to find the fence with Sikandar Raza for company. The equation came down to just over a run-a-ball with overs to go and Salman Irshad gave some hope by castling Billings with a yorker. But it was too late by then. Aamer Jamal's drop catch off Raza in the 18th over didn't help even though Omarzai bowled him a full-toss soon. In the end, the skipper Shaheen struck a four which was followed by a gorgeous maximum to get Lahore over the line!
18.5 Salman Irshad to Shaheen Afridi, SIX! Shaheen Afridi finishes it off in style. Fuller on the middle stump, Shaheen holds his pose as he spanks that downtown back over the bower's head fo a maximum.
18.4 Salman Irshad to Shaheen Afridi, FOUR! Irshad missing his line and length. A juicy full toss in the arc of Shaheen and he slams that away over the mid-on fielder and it races away to the fence.
18.3 Salman Irshad to David Wiese, fuller around off, carved away down towards deep point for a single.
18.2 Salman Irshad to Shaheen Afridi, slower delivery on the fuller length on middle, worked away back to the bowler, it trickles away to hit the stumps at the non-striker's end. A single taken.
18.1 Salman Irshad to David Wiese, slower on the surface, Wiese way too early into the attempted swipe across the line, trickles of his body towards the off side for a leg bye single.
Eight runs and a wicket off the over. Lahore Qalandars only require nine runs off 12 balls. Unless there is a miraculous 19th over, should be comfortable for Lahore!
18
overs
163/6score
1
1
4
W
1lb
1
runs
David Wiese*
8(5)
Shaheen Afridi
0(1)
Azmatullah Omarzai
2/30
17.6 Azmatullah Omarzai to David Wiese, Omarzai finishes it off with a fuller one well outside off, slammed away all along the carpet down towards the deep cover-point region for a single.
17.5 Azmatullah Omarzai to Shaheen Afridi, fuller and quicker on the pads. Shaheen misses out on the attempted clip but still manages to get a leg bye single.
Bowed with a full-toss! However, Peshawar Zalmi have to strike back-to-back if they are going to get back into this game somehow!
17.4 Azmatullah Omarzai to Sikandar Raza, WICKET! That was a quick full toss which shatters the off-stump. That was bowled at pace, was a full toss and it was an opportunity for a boundary here. Raza makes some space and tries to flay that away past point, misses that completely and has to hear the death rattle.
Sikandar Raza b Azmatullah Omarzai 23 (14b) (4*3 6*0)
17.3 Azmatullah Omarzai to Sikandar Raza, FOUR! An attempted slower delivery from Omarzai, on the surface, Raza gets inside the line of the ball and pumps it away over the short fine leg fielder.
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Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
David Wiese
*
Azmatullah Omarzai
Video
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