PSL 11: Qalandars pile up mammoth total against Sultans in rain-reduced fixture

LAHORE: Right-handed opener Mohammad Naeem’s swashbuckling half-century powered defending champions Lahore Qalandars to a massive total against Multan Sultans in the rain-reduced 11th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

In a match that was reduced to 13 overs per side due to a two-hour-long rain hindrance, Sultans captain Ashton Turner won the toss and elected to field first, but the decision backfired as the holders accumulated a humongous total of 185/5, courtesy of their top order.

The home side got off to a flying start to their innings, with their new opening pair of Naeem and Parvez Hossain Emon putting together 86 runs in just five overs.

Debutant pacer Muhammad Ismail, who got off to an unwanted start to his spell as he conceded 26 runs in his first over, gave the Sultans a much-needed breakthrough on the first delivery of the sixth over by cleaning up Emon.

The Bangladesh international walked back after scoring a quickfire 45 off just 19 deliveries, laced with five sixes and two fours.

His dismissal, however, did not dent Qalandars’ dominance as Abdullah Shafique and Naeem raised a 58-run partnership at a brisk pace before both perished in successive overs, falling prey to Ismail and Faisal Akram, respectively.

Naeem remained the top-scorer for the Qalandars with a 28-ball 60, studded with four sixes and as many fours, while Shafique struck three fours and two sixes on his way to a 14-ball 33.

Peter Siddle inflicted another blow to the Qalandars’ march by cleaning up Rubin Hermann (three) in the penultimate over, but Sikandar Raza (13 not out) hit back-to-back boundaries on the final two deliveries of the innings to ensure a decent finish for the three-time champions.

Debutant Ismail was the pick of the bowlers for the Sultans, taking two wickets for 47 runs in his four overs, while Siddle and Akram could bag one apiece. Sports Desk