Islamabad United thrash Lahore Qalandars by nine wickets in PSL 11

KARACHI: Islamabad United outclassed defending champions Lahore Qalandars by nine wickets in a one-sided Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 match at the National Stadium on Thursday, after bowling Lahore out for 100 and reaching 104-1 in 10.2 overs.

Chris Green was named Player of the Match after taking three important wickets in a bowling display that put Lahore under pressure throughout the innings. Islamabad completed the chase with 58 balls remaining.

Lahore bowled out for 100

Lahore Qalandars chose to bat first but struggled to build momentum as Islamabad’s bowlers made regular inroads on a surface that offered movement and grip. Opening batter Mohammad Naeem was dismissed for a golden duck, and the early breakthroughs prevented Lahore from putting together meaningful stands.

According to the match report, left-arm spinner Imad Wasim and the pacers shared the early wickets, keeping the batting side under sustained pressure. Sikandar Raza was Lahore’s top-scorer with 25, while a partnership of more than 30 runs in the middle overs provided only brief resistance before the innings slipped again.

Green finished with three wickets, while Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan claimed two each as Lahore were dismissed for 100 in 18.3 overs. Islamabad also backed up their bowling with sharp fielding. The report highlighted Shadab’s athletic work in the field, including a diving stop at mid-off, as part of a dominant all-round effort.

Conway and Faiq seal easy chase

Islamabad’s chase began with a minor setback when Sameer Minhas was dismissed cheaply, giving Shaheen Shah Afridi the only breakthrough of the innings. After that, Devon Conway and Mohammad Faiq settled the chase and took the game away from Lahore.

Conway remained unbeaten on 59 off 35 balls, anchoring the innings with a mix of controlled strokeplay and aggressive hitting. Faiq supported him with 34 not out from 19 deliveries as the pair guided Islamabad home comfortably.

The contest was effectively settled in the 10th over when Conway took 22 runs off Sikandar Raza, bringing up his half-century and putting the result beyond serious doubt. Islamabad reached the target with little risk and maintained a brisk scoring rate throughout the chase.

United strengthen their campaign

Islamabad captain Shadab Khan rotated his bowlers effectively, using both spin and pace to make the most of the conditions and keep Lahore under pressure. The early wickets allowed Islamabad to control the match in all departments, from bowling and fielding to the run chase.

For Lahore, the defeat underlined the lack of substantial contributions from the batting line-up and the inability to form partnerships under pressure. Despite possessing a strong bowling attack, they were unable to defend a low total.

The win boosts Islamabad United’s position in the PSL standings and reinforces their credentials as strong contenders in the tournament, while Lahore Qalandars will need to recover quickly to remain competitive as the league stage continues.