Defending champions Lahore Qalandars secured their third win of the ongoing tournament.
Defending champions Lahore Qalandars registered their third win of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 on Saturday, defeating Rawalpindi by 32 runs at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, which led to their elimination from the tournament.
Chasing a target of 211, Rawalpindi were restricted to 178/9 in their allotted 20 overs, as Lahore Qalandars produced a strong and disciplined bowling performance.
Rawalpindi made a poor start as opener Shahzaib Khan fell in the third over, becoming the first wicket of the innings off skipper Shaheen Afridi.
Afridi struck again in the same over, removing captain Mohammad Rizwan for a run-a-ball nine, which included two boundaries, leaving the side under pressure at 17-2 after 2.3 overs.
Daryl Mitchell and Yasir Khan then attempted to stabilise the innings, guiding Rawalpindi past the 50-run mark with a vital partnership. The pair added 50 runs together, with Yasir playing positively as he brought up his fourth PSL half-century.
However, their 71-run stand ended when Haris Rauf dismissed Mitchell for 11 off 15 balls, including one four, reducing Rawalpindi to 88-3 in 9.2 overs. Rauf struck again in the same over, removing Yasir after a fluent 58 off 29 deliveries, which featured six fours and three sixes.
Sam Billings and Dian Forrester tried to rebuild the innings and took the score past 100, but Sikandar Raza broke the partnership by dismissing Billings for just seven via stumping.
Rawalpindi continued to lose wickets as Usama Mir joined the attack, removing Forrester for eight off 10 balls, leaving the side at 110-6 in 12.5 overs. Usama struck again shortly after, dismissing Colin McConchie for three off five balls.
Daniel Sams then joined the wickets column, sending Razaullah back cheaply for five off 10 deliveries, further denting Rawalpindi’s chase.
Despite the collapse, Saad Masood played a fighting knock, taking the total past 150 and completing his maiden PSL half-century.
In the final over, Haris Rauf claimed his third wicket by ending Saad’s impressive innings of 54 off 26 balls, which included nine fours and one six, while Asif Afridi added a boundary off the last delivery.
Earlier, batting first, Lahore Qalandars posted 210/4 in their 20 overs, thanks to outstanding performances from openers Mohammad Farooq and Fakhar Zaman.
The pair started steadily, with Farooq taking charge as boundaries flowed regularly, helping the team cross the 50-run mark inside the powerplay and putting early pressure on the Rawalpindi bowlers.
Farooq was in superb touch, while Fakhar provided solid support from the other end, bringing up his maiden PSL fifty as the partnership gathered momentum.
The duo went on to dominate the attack and raised a century stand, building a strong platform for a big total. However, their 121-run partnership was broken in the 11th over when Mohammad Amir dismissed Farooq for a brilliant 63 off 41 balls, featuring five fours and five sixes.
Fakhar continued to anchor the innings, taking the total past 150 and reaching his 25th PSL half-century in the process.
Abdullah Shafique then joined him and added another 50-run stand as the scoring rate remained high. He contributed 26 off 18 balls, including one four and two sixes, before Razaullah broke the partnership.
Razaullah struck again soon after, removing Sikandar Raza for a golden duck, leaving Qalandars at 191/3 after 18 overs.
Lahore lost their fourth wicket in the 19th over when Mohammad Amir returned to dismiss Fakhar Zaman, who played a superb innings of 84 off 54 balls, hitting 11 fours and one six.
Charith Asalanka and Asif Ali finished the innings, with Asif striking back-to-back sixes to push the total beyond 200. He remained unbeaten on 14 off six balls, while Asalanka contributed one run.
For Rawalpindi, Razaullah and Mohammad Amir were the standout bowlers, picking up two wickets each.
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