Qalandars qulify for PSL semi-final after thrashing Sultans by 9 wickets
LAHORE (92 News) – Lahore Qalandars qualified for the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 semi-final by thrashing the top one ranking team Multan Sutlans with a nine-wicket win at Qaddafi Stadium.
Lahore Qalandars scored 191 for 1 with seven balls remaining. Lahore Qalandars scored 191 for 1 with seven balls remaining. Chris Lynn played a magical innings and helped Qalandars to qualify for semi-final with sixes and four.
Lahore Qalandars have won today’s game against Multan Sultans comprehensively by 9 wickets and have qualified for the HBL PSL 5 Semi Final.
It was Chris Lynn show in Lahore today as he smacked his first ton of the HBL PSL 2020 and went on to score unbeaten 113 from just 55 balls with 12 fours and 8 sixes.
Lahore Qalandars will now play Karachi Kings in the HBL PSL 5 semi final on March 17 at their home ground.
Earlier, Multan Sultans Khushdil Shah scored an unbeated 70 off 29 to help Sultans post 186-6 for Lahore Qalandars. Sultans who at one point were 91-5, turned things around for themselves with Shah's theatrics.
Multan lost five early wickets after Lahore won the toss and chose to field first. Sultans Moeen Ali was the first to depart after just scoring one run. Zeeshan Ashraf followed next with just four runs on the board falling to Mohammad Hafeez.
Skipper Shan Masood showed resistance blasting 42 off 29 before he fell to David Wiese. Wiese continued with his onslaught sending Ravi Bopara back to the pavilion with Multan on 90-4.
Asad Shafiq was next to follow after being run-out for just one run. Rohail Nazir went next after scoring 24 off 17.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and decided to bowl first against Multan Sultans.
With just a few more league matches to go, things are heating up in the PSL with hosts Lahore Qalandars taking on Multan Sultans.
Hunting for a victory to secure a certain place in the last four, Qalandars will take on leaders Sultans in their last match of the round stage in the PSL in front of an empty stadium.It is the lone match of the league which is being held at the Gaddafi Stadium under the sun light, starting at 2:00pm. The venue will also hold the first semifinal in daylight on March 17 followed by the second semifinal in the night, after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) changed the schedule of the matches in view of several measures taken for the safety of the players and fans amid growing threat of the corona virus. Despite the exodus of many foreign players from the franchises on Friday, the suspense in the last leg of PSL remains intact as except Multan Sultans the fate of the other five teams depend on the results of the last round matches being played in Karachi and Lahore. If the Qalandars, which have come from behind to be a serious contender for the semifinal stage, beat Sultans today, their place in the semifinal will be confirmed as it will raise their points from eight to ten. But in case of defeat, Qalandars’ chances of defending champions Quetta Gladiators who will be meeting Karachi Kings on Sunday night in Karachi will again come to alive, as the last day’s matches (on Sunday) are vital to decide the other two semifinalists. Qalandars have a good number of performers to give tough time to Sultans to reserve a place in the last four. Their match-winning batsmen are including of most destructive Ben Dunk, Mohammad Hafeez, captain Sohail Akhtar and Chris Lynn, while Samit Patel as all-rounder is also making good contribution as batsman. In the bowling department, dashing pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi with 11 wickets to his credit leads the pack while Samit with nine wickets is also a dangerous bowler. On the other hand, Multan Sultans are to land in Lahore from Karachi after beating Peshawar Zalmis, another candidate for the semifinal stage, on Saturday night. Though Sultans are riding a crest of wave, they are bound to feel the absence of their two key foreign players Rilee Rossouw and James Vince when they take the field.So the @lahoreqalandars won the toss and elected to field. Here are the XIs. #HBLPSLV pic.twitter.com/08zeCe8g24
— PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) March 15, 2020
