In the opening match of HBL PSL 11, the Lahore Qalandars easily defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by 69 runs.
Batting first, the Qalandars posted a formidable total of 199 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Fakhar Zaman led the charge with a fluent 53 off 39 balls, smashing 10 fours. He was well supported by Haseebullah Khan, who remained unbeaten on 40, and Muhammad Naeem, who contributed 30 runs.
Chasing a target of 200, the Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled to keep up with the required run rate and were eventually bowled out for 130 off the last ball. Captain Marnus Labuschagne top-scored with 26, while Riley Meredith and Hassan Khan added 19 and 14 runs respectively.
The Qalandars’ bowlers delivered a clinical performance, with Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza, and Obaid Shah each picking up two wickets, effectively dismantling the Hyderabad batting lineup.
With this win, the Lahore Qalandars not only secured crucial points in the PSL 11 standings but also sent a strong message to the competition with their all-round display.
Earlier, Lahore Qalandars set a target of 200 runs for the Hyderabad Kingsmen to chase.
The match, played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, saw the Qalandars win the toss and elect to bat first against the Hyderabad Kingsmen.
Batting first, the Lahore Qalandars scored 199 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Opener Fakhar Zaman played a brilliant innings of 53 runs off 39 balls, including 10 fours. Haseebullah Khan remained unbeaten on 40, while Muhammad Naeem contributed 30 runs.
The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has kicked off on Thursday as Lahore Qalandars won the toss and decided to bat first against Hyderabad Kingsmen.
Cricket fans are excited to watch their favourite event; however, this year, matches will be available only on television and via live streaming.
Due to the government’s decision to prevent an energy crisis amid ongoing regional tensions, no spectators will be allowed in the stadium. PSL 11 matches will be broadcast live on Pakistan’s first sports channel, Geo Super, and on the digital app Myco.
The opening match of HBL PSL 11 is being played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The Lahore Qalandars playing XI includes Muhammad Naeem, Abdullah Shafiq, Fakhar Zaman, Pervez Hussain, Haseebullah, Sikandar Raza, Asif Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Mustafizur Rehman, and Obaid Shah.
The Hyderabad Kingsmen playing XI includes Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Marnus Labuschagne, Kaushal Perera, Irfan Niazi, Rizwan Mahmood, Hassan Khan, Hammad Azam, Rylee Meredith, Muhammad Ali, and Akif Javed.
Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Mohsin Naqvi, and Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz are also present at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Read more: Five teams clash in National Women’s T20 cricket tournament
