Lahore Qalandars delivered a ruthless all-round performance to dismantle Islamabad United by 88 runs in their HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 clash on Wednesday, successfully defending a massive total of 209.
After opting to bowl first, Islamabad United found themselves on the back foot almost immediately as Lahore’s top and middle-order fired on all cylinders. Fakhar Zaman anchored the innings with a fluent 44 off 30 balls, setting the tone alongside Mohammad Naeem (25 off 22).
The real damage, however, came through the power-hitting exploits of Sikandar Raza (39 off 17) and Sam Billings (38* off 17), who launched a brutal assault in the death overs. Their aggressive stroke play propelled Lahore to an imposing 209/6 — a total that proved far beyond Islamabad's reach.
In response, Islamabad United collapsed to 121 all out in just 16.5 overs.
Despite a brisk 41 off 27 balls from Andries Gous and a promising 36 from Salman Agha, Islamabad’s chase unravelled rapidly after the loss of key wickets. Azam Khan, Haider Ali, and captain Shadab Khan fell cheaply, exposing the tail far too early.
The Qalandars’ bowling unit, spearheaded by Haris Rauf and Sikandar Raza, was relentless. Rauf ripped through Islamabad’s middle and lower order to claim 4 for 31, while Raza’s spin strangled the chase, finishing with 3 for 20.
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Tom Curran chipped in with crucial breakthroughs, ensuring there was no respite for the United batting line-up.
This comprehensive win reaffirms Lahore’s resurgence in the latter half of the tournament and simultaneously halts Islamabad’s five-match winning streak. The defeat also raises questions about United's depth and temperament under pressure — a critical factor as the playoffs loom.
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