An all-round performance from
Shaheen Afridi inspired
Lahore Qalandars to a thrilling win in the high-scoring
Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 final against
Multan Sultans at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday. Qalandars sealed a one-run victory to become the PSL champions for the second successive time.
Shaheen’s 15-ball 44 unbeaten knock, along with
Abdullah Shafique‘s 40-ball 65, helped the Qalandars finished with 200/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Mirza Baig (30) and
Fakhar Zaman (39) also chipped in with valuable contributions.
In response,
Rilee Rossouw‘s half-century and some handy contributions from the rest of the batters kept Sultans in the hunt, but the Qalandars held their nerve in, with captain Shaheen bagging a four-wicket haul. Spinner
Rashid Khan also helped the team’s cause with two wickets for 26 runs.
Brief scores:
Lahore Qalandars 200/6 in 20 overs (Abdullah Shafique 65, Shaheen Afridi 44*; Usama Mir 3/24)
beat Multan Sultans 199/8 in 20 overs (Rilee Rossouw 52, Mohammad Rizwan 34; Shaheen Afridi 4/51)
by 1 run.
“To reach the final a second time and win again is a great feeling. Credit to the entire team and coaching staff for keeping us comfortable. I think it was tough early on when the momentum was swinging between them and us. But the idea was to fight till the very end, and it paid off. At that time, I felt like I should go to bat and was lucky to get a few in the slot. This win is for all those Pakistani people who seek joy in PSL. They deserved a game like this,” said Shaheen after the match.
Here is how Twitter reacted: QALANDARS BANAY CHAMPIONS ?
Celebrations amidst fireworks ?
#HBLPSL8 |
#SabSitarayHumaray |
#MSvLQ pic.twitter.com/sbIPNPJaVB — PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20)
March 18, 2023
A thrilling game of cricket ends with us bringing home the ?
Best feeling ever!! ?
A big thank you to all the fans for your support, wouldn’t have been possible without you ?
@lahoreqalandars @thePSLt20 pic.twitter.com/s33OGG0vH8 — Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19)
March 19, 2023
Deja Vu
pic.twitter.com/UfPn3S6HkM — Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars)
March 18, 2023
Shaheen Afridi show in PSL final.
He smashed 44* runs from just 15 balls including 2 fours & 5 sixes when Lahore was 112/5 in 15th over.
pic.twitter.com/n8kQzvniQV — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
March 18, 2023
Epic Final, Couldn’t have ask more from the players. Congratulations ? ??
@iShaheenAfridi &
@lahoreqalandars for Winning
#HBLPSL2023 ? Leading from from the front with bat and ball
#CaptainCool ?
pic.twitter.com/p26xZW4ZJ5 — Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99)
March 18, 2023
Shaheen Shah Afridi has turned out to be a terrific leader. Congrats again to
@lahoreqalandars — Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi)
March 18, 2023
WHAT A FINISH! ???
https://t.co/MS1rCVxZeW — Sam Billings (@sambillings)
March 18, 2023
Shaheen Afridi is the first captain to win PSL Final twice and Lahore Qalandars are the first team to defend the title. There can't be a better finish to a final. A one-run thrilling win!
#PSLFinal — Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad)
March 18, 2023
Champions ?
#LQvsMS #MSvLQ #PSLFinal pic.twitter.com/puT1dUW4nX — Dunder Mifflin Pakistan ?? (@dundermifflinpk)
March 18, 2023
Scenes from Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore after 3 hours from now??
#PSLfinal #LQvsMS pic.twitter.com/UO5288dQFE — ?? Muhammad Noor ?? (@Noor_Marriiii)
March 18, 2023
Ohhh MY GOD ? What a sensational Last over ? ohhh I can't breathe seriously ??
What a Final Match
#LQvsMS #LQvMS #HBLPSL8 #PSL08 #PSLFinal pic.twitter.com/QiKtY5ye9U — Akhtar Jamal (@AkhtarActivist)
March 18, 2023
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