LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars kicked off the 11th season of the HBL Pakistan Super League in emphatic style, posting 199 for six before restricting debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen to 130, securing a dominant 69-run victory at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Opening the innings, Fakhar Zaman led the charge with a quickfire 53 off 39 balls, including 10 boundaries, while Mohammad Naeem added a breezy 30 off 19 deliveries. The lower order then accelerated the scoring, with Haseebullah Khan unbeaten on 40 off 28 balls, Sikandar Raza blasting 24 off just 10 deliveries, and skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi finishing with back-to-back sixes in the final over.
The Qalandars’ powerplay was dominated by Fakhar and Naeem, who raced to 64 without loss. Fakhar reached his 24th PSL fifty in clinical fashion, while Naeem cleared the ropes with a massive six off Riley Meredith. Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled against the aggressive batting, and despite taking three quick wickets including Fakhar’s dismissal at 53, they could not halt the Qalandars’ surge. The last six overs alone yielded 80 runs, highlighting the Kingsmen’s fielding lapses and ineffective bowling.
In response, the Kingsmen began steadily but quickly lost momentum under the Qalandars’ relentless attack. Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Usman Khan early, while Ubaid Shah accounted for Saim Ayub. Sikandar Raza starred with the ball, taking two crucial wickets including captain Marnus Labuschagne, while Haris Rauf and Mustafizur Rahman bowled tight lines, leaving the Kingsmen struggling to build partnerships. Brief resistance from Hassan (14) and Hammad Azam (10) proved insufficient as the innings collapsed, ending with a run-out in the final over.
The Qalandars’ pace attack of Shaheen (1-28), Haris (2-22), Mustafizur (1-19), and Raza’s 2-27 proved too formidable for the new franchise. The pitch offered good pace and occasional grip, which the Qalandars exploited perfectly.
This comprehensive win gives Lahore an ideal start to their PSL title defense. For Hyderabad Kingsmen, their maiden PSL outing was a sobering test, highlighting areas that require immediate improvement. The match was played behind closed doors, in line with this season’s tournament protocol.