Lahore Qalanders, on Sunday, has won the final of HBL PSL X final against Quetta Gladiators.
Sikandar Raza’s dramatic arrival just minutes before the toss became the catalyst for a storybook ending, as Lahore Qalandars captured their third Pakistan Super League (PSL) title on Sunday with a thrilling six-wicket win over Quetta Gladiators.
The 39-year-old Zimbabwean all-rounder landed in Pakistan only 10 minutes ahead of the toss, having flown overnight from England, where he had played in Zimbabwe’s innings loss to England in the Nottingham Test just a day earlier. Despite the exhausting journey, Raza made an instant and game-changing impact.
He stayed unbeaten on 22 from just seven deliveries, smashing two massive sixes and two classy boundaries to help Lahore chase down 202 runs with a single ball remaining in a nail-biting finish at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.
“I had dinner in Birmingham, breakfast in Dubai, lunch in Abu Dhabi, and dinner in Pakistan,” Raza joked about his whirlwind trip. “This is the life of a professional cricketer, and I feel blessed and humbled.”
Lahore’s chase heavily depended on Raza and Sri Lankan batter Kusal Perera, who scored an unbeaten 62 off 31 balls, including five fours and four sixes, as part of a crucial 59-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Earlier, Mohammad Naeem and Abdullah Shafique provided a solid platform with scores of 46 and 41, respectively, enabling Lahore to record the highest successful chase in a PSL final.
Quetta, who chose to bat after winning the toss, put up a formidable total of 201 for nine. Their innings was highlighted by a brilliant 76 from Hasan Nawaz, with valuable contributions from Avishka Fernando (29) and Dinesh Chandimal (22), sharing partnerships of 67 and 46 runs.
Faheem Ashraf added a quickfire 28, including 23 off the final over bowled by Salman Mirza, pushing Quetta past the 200-run mark.
Shaheen Shah Afridi led Lahore’s bowling attack with figures of 3 for 24.
With this win, Lahore Qalandars have now secured three straight PSL titles, following their triumphs in 2022 and 2023, firmly establishing themselves as the league’s dominant force.
