ISU vs LHQ 16th Match, PSL 2023

David Wiese (Player of the Match) : "Seemed to have a bit more cracks but we knew it would be decent enough if the bowlers adjusted is just right over there. When you got a batting unit that can consistently score 200, the bowling side gets an advantage and just needs to deliver the basics. Lahore’s been a team that’s given me so much opportunity and responsibility as one of the experienced players in the last two years and it’s given me the chances to help young players as much as I can."

Pursuing a mammoth total of 201, Islamabad United were gifted some free runs in the first over of the chase owing to a wayward opening over by skipper Shaheen Afridi. Both Colin Munro and Rahmanullah Gurbaz capitalized on the start and went all guns blazing inside teh powerplay. The assault from Munro and Gurbaz had Shaheen in distress before Zaman Khan deceived Gurbaz 23(17) with a slower bumper. 

The right-handed Munro played a couple of assertive strokes before David Wiese removed him for 18(14). United did go past 50 runs inside the powerplay but a couple of quick wickets fluttered their spirits. As a result, Rassie van der Dussen 3(6) also succumbed to building pressure and threw his wicket away. To fan the flames, skipper Shadab Khan 4(6) was also outdone by a sharp bumper of Wiese and left United reeling at 63/4. 

United needed a partnership in the middle but Qalandars kept chipping wickets at regular intervals and bundled them out for only 90 runs. David Wiese was the pick of the bowlers for Qalandars and extracted three crucial wickets by giving away 17 runs. Spinners Rashid Khan and Sikandar Raza also aggregated a couple of wickets while Zaman Khan and Haris Rauf also extracted a wicket. 

Earlier in the day, after electing to bat first, the Qalandars openers Fakhar Zaman and Mirza Tahir Baig continued the onslaught from yesterday on a flat surface with a tinge of green. The right-left duo of Baig and Fakhar set the tempo early on in the innings and swatted 57 off the powerplay. The in-form Fakhar was yet again the primary aggressor in the partnership while young Baig started on a composed note. 

Just when the partnership was steering Lahore to yet another humongous total, skipper Shadab Khan ceased the 58-run stand by outwitting Baig for 20(17). That was soon followed by the massive wicket of Fakhar 36(23), who fell apart attempting an awry shot. Abdullah Shafique then got together with Sam Billings and the duo swiftly changed the momentum. 

The right-hander Shafique was striking the ball nicely and played some conventional shots while the English gloveman Billings carried out some reverse sweeps to keep the runs flowing. The 71-run run partnership was once again ceased by Tom Curran as Shafique 45(24) holed out in the deep. The right-handed Billings also departed for 33(23) at the backend and handed United an opportunity to climb back but buoyed by some late hitting by Sikandar Raza 23(10) and Rashid Khan 18(12), Qalandars cruised to 200 for the second consecutive time at their home venue. Stick around for the post-match presentation!