Lahore Qalandars created history on Saturday by becoming the first team to win back-to-back Pakistan Super League titles. They defeated Multan Sultans by a narrow margin of one run in a thrilling final held at a packed Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Qalandars batted first and posted a daunting total of 200-6 in their allotted 20 overs. Abdullah Shafique top-scored with a 40-ball 65, while Fakhar Zaman contributed with 39 runs. However, Qalandars lost four quick wickets after Zaman’s dismissal and were struggling at 112-5.
Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who smashed a rapid 44 not out off just 15 balls, promoted himself to number seven and made an instant impact. Along with Shafique, he hit 24 runs off pacer Ihsanullah in the 17th over to give Qalandars a much-needed boost.
A good chase by Sultans
In reply, Multan Sultans got off to a flying start, racing to 101-1 in the first ten overs with Rilee Rossouw and Mohammad Rizwan adding 64 runs for the second wicket. Rossouw was particularly impressive, smashing seven fours and two sixes off just 32 balls.
However, Shaheen returned for his second spell and dismissed Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Anwar Ali, and Usama Mir to put Qalandars back in the game. With 35 runs needed in the last two overs, Khushdil Shah and Abbas Afridi took 22 from Haris Rauf’s 19th over but failed to score the required 13 runs in the final over.
“We reached the final again and won the title for a second time so that’s a reward for teamwork. We played well in the final but it was a tense win,” said Shaheen after the match.
Multan’s Khushdil Shah tried to take a third run to force a super over but was run out by Shaheen at the bowler’s end, ensuring Qalandars’ victory.
Leg-spinner Usama Mir was the pick of Sultans’ bowlers with 3-24, while Shaheen Shah Afridi took 4-51 for Qalandars.
The Qalandars had defeated Multan Sultans in last year’s final as well. “It was a tough final, but we knew what we had to do. Winning back-to-back titles is an incredible achievement, and it’s all thanks to our teamwork,” said Shafique.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Lahore Qalandar’s win in PSL 8:
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sam Billings after winning PSL 2023 be like 😅.#PSL2023 #PSL08 #PSLFinal pic.twitter.com/AQXQsOjFYo
— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) March 18, 2023
Congratulations to @lahoreqalandars on becoming PSL champions & the way they played throughout the tournament. Congrats to @thePSLt20 management on putting an amazing tournament and where the matches were nail bitting till the end on most part. [email protected] @MultanSultans #PSL2023 pic.twitter.com/8vbqsnmvdL
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) March 18, 2023
The best PSL final ever. Paisa wasool ♥️ #HBLPSL8 pic.twitter.com/AOg60GSSMc
— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) March 18, 2023
500 In 2021
546 In 2022
516* In 2023Mohammad Rizwan Is The Only Batter to Score 500+ In 3 Consecutive PSL Seasons… pic.twitter.com/nZOJ6HgiQ7
— Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@Rnawaz31888) March 15, 2023
Lahore Qalandars WIN BY 1 RUN. 🔥🔥
What A Match. What A Tournament. PSL is the gift that just keeps on giving.
THANK YOU FOR THOROUGHLY ENTERTAINING US OVER THE LAST 8 YEARS. 💚 pic.twitter.com/WKFQfxQzrd
— Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@Rnawaz31888) March 18, 2023
Champions @lahoreqalandars ❤️ 💚
That’s the tweet.#Alhamdulillah #VisitZimbabwe pic.twitter.com/P2ZNsQuzvN
— Sikandar Raza (@SRazaB24) March 18, 2023
Most trolled team in the first 4 years. Only team without a trophy after the first 6. Shaheen awarded captaincy. Everyone mocked them for giving such an inexperienced man the push. Fast forward 2 years. He's the only captain to win back-to-back PSL titles. Lahore Qalandars are… https://t.co/QvbIDlxkJt pic.twitter.com/8ddOBElIi2
— Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@Rnawaz31888) March 18, 2023
Even atheists can't explain this journey of Lahore Qalandars. pic.twitter.com/p3W4Ow5yG4
— Haroon (@ThisHaroon) March 18, 2023
LAHORE QALANDARS.
THE GREATEST TEAM THERE IS. THE GREATEST THERE WAS. THE GREATEST THERE EVER WILL BE.
pic.twitter.com/D6nrF6tCJM— Q. (@qazisays) March 18, 2023
Lahore Qalandars under Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi pic.twitter.com/acjNR0HESC
— haris. (@hariszz77) March 18, 2023
LAHORE QALANDARS IS IN THE FINALS. #PSL08#ShaheenShahAfridi pic.twitter.com/1ByRguPGou
— Brownie ✨ (@the_desi_dream) March 17, 2023
